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AUGUST 2015

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

TRENDING NOW • 70+ School Districts Compared • Problem-Solving Preschoolers • Fab Fall Fashions • Rockin’ Lockers

GO TO BED! And Other Key Transition Tips

Back To

School

Common Core Critics On The Rise

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table of contents in every issue

AUGUST 2015

VOLUME 20

1.

3

8

NUMBER 4

things we learned

while making

the august issue

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 65% of the jobs of tomorrow have not been created yet. Head to page 68 to discover how a back-to-basics style of play will give your child critical skills that will benefit her in the future.

The average age of puberty has been steadily dropping since the early 20th century, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Currently, girls experience their first period at 12.5 years old. On page 28, get expert advice on how to prepare yourself — and her — for this milestone.

3.

2.

The slow cooker was invented nearly 80 years ago as a way for Jewish families to avoid cooking on the Sabbath. Turn to page 33 and find out how slow cooker technology has evolved to deliver more diverse, healthy family meals.

Our Back-To-School Articles 45 47 55 58 62

Captured: First Day of School Fashion: Keeping It Cool After A Long Day At School How Does Your School District Stack Up? Preschool to Teen: Back-To-School Transition Tips Why The ‘Wrong’ Teacher Is Right For Your Child

33 36

64

Lice: Behind The Myths And Helpful Prevention Tips

67

Divorce & Single Parenting: Back-To-School Tips For Recently Separated Families

68

Sticks, Stones & Shovels: Creating The Next Generation of Problem Solvers

74

How To Trick Out Your Locker

77

Common Core Opposition Gains Momentum in Massachusetts

RIPE: Not Your Mother’s Crock-Pot DISHIN’ WITH THE DIETITIAN: Healthy Lunchbox Packing Tips

37

WELCOME: A Letter from Our Editor

10 12 13 14

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

16

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: August Calendar of Family Events

24

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE: SMILE Mass Donates Floating Wheelchairs to Massachusetts Beaches

28

WOMEN’S HEALTH: Preparing Your Daughter (And Yourself) For Her Period

38

FINALLY FOREVER: Creative Ways To Finance An Adoption

39

AUGUST’S CHILD: Meet Brianna

39

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Area Adoption Events

82

ASK THE EXPERT: Tween Co-Ed Party Concerns

88

REEL LIFE WITH JANE: Family Movies Coming to Theatres, DVD in August

90

OUR AUGUST FAVORITES: Facts, Finds and Freebies

94

TAKE 8: Author David McCullough, Jr.

bsp ONLINE SHOW & TELL: ChoreMonster & Cuddlefish Towels LET’S GO: Your Family Guide to North End Feasts

features 30

Birth Order Basics: Parenting A High-Flying Firstborn

40

Tea and Conversation With Children’s Author Natasha Lowe

BITES: A fun way to pack lunch, a new look at summer iced tea, General Mills to remove artificial colors, flavors from cereals, and more BAYSTATEPARENT 7

welcome to

meet team publisher KIRK DAVIS

August is a tricky month for families, we’re still firmly ensconced in summer and all its glory — camps, travel, finagling sitter coverage, you name it. Yet at the same time, we’ve got one eye on the calendar and the other on a shopping list: supplies, clothes, backpacks, lunchboxes, and glue sticks. (Seriously, how much glue do these kids need?)

And I’m not even going to get into the whole, signing-up-for-activitiesand-figuring-out-the-schedule thing — we’ll get around to talking about that in our next issue. The point I’m trying to make is, as parents we’re serving two masters in August — especially if our children go back to school before Labor Day — trying to enjoy a little more sun and fun and also prep for fall.

With that mind in, this month we have a slate of stories designed to help your family’s transition back to school. On page 58, Michelle PerrasCharron talks to experts who offer great tips on how to make the shift a better experience for everyone,

from preschoolers to teens.

Another prospective change on the horizon involves standardized testing in Massachusetts public schools. For 17 years, Bay State students have taken the annual MCAS test, yet the Board of Education is set to vote this fall on whether the state will switch to the Common Core-aligned PARCC test. A growing number of parents, educators, administrators, and politicians are opposed to the test for a variety of reasons. Read Doug Page’s story on page 77 and get up to speed on the history of Common Core in Massachusetts, the major players, why PARCC is so controversial, and what’s at stake for public schools and, most importantly, students.

And, by the way, just how is your school district faring? We gathered the most recent statistics available from the state across 10 categories, from average class size and perpupil spending to SAT scores and average teacher salary. Find out how your school district stacks up starting on page 55.

But it’s not all serious school stories this month; we have two fun photo shoots waiting for you. First

is our locker makeover on page 74.

Lockers are bland and boring, but over the past few years companies have really stepped it up in terms of locker accessories and fashion.

Given that tall metal box is prime real estate for your child, we’ll show you a variety of products that can help them do it up right and express themselves. On page 47, we took eight tweens and teens to two cool locations to show you some fresh, fun looks for fall.

On page 30 begins Part 1 of a 5-part series, one I’ve been looking forward to for months. Writer Abbey Tiderman digs deep on Birth Order Basics, where each month she will explore the characteristics behind each child and how we can parent them best. First up, fittingly: the high-flying first-born. Is your child a typical first born? Read on!

And that’s just the beginning of what we have in store this month.

So start reading and, as always, send me your thoughts: editor@ baystateparent.com.

M e li ss a

Melissa Shaw, Editor

Laighla

What has been the highlight of your summer so far? The highlight of my summer so far is being able to work as a cashier at my father’s restaurant. It’s my first job making my own money and not having to ask my Mom or Dad for it. It is awesome!

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to listen to music while standing in front of my bathroom mirror, or in my room, when my little sister isn’t bugging me. I love to sing and I think that’s where my love for music comes from.

What are you looking forward to most when going back to school?

I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and being able to meet new friends. I can’t wait to see what 7th grade is all about. I’m excited, but a bit anxious about it, as well.

What is your favorite book and why? Wonder by R.J. Palacio is my favorite. It opened my eyes to just how mean your peers can be in school, especially when they see someone who may not be as popular, or as good looking, or wearing the latest fashion, or for just being smart. It’s sad that there are kids who are afraid to go to school because they fear how other students will treat them. I have been in that same situation where I was bullied at some point, so I get it. I will

creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 ext. 221 pethier@holdenlandmark.com senior graphic designer STEPHANIE MALLARD 508-865-7070 design@baystateparent.com multimedia editor HEATHER KEMPSKIE heather@baystateparent.com

advertising director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 regina@baystateparent.com account executive MARIE COREY 508-735-0503 marie@baystateparent.com

presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS photographers STEVEN KING KAREN MORIARTY GEORGIA MORIARTY

photo

BY

Karen Moriarty

PHOTOGRAPHY

never allow myself to be that way towards anyone; it’s such a bad way to be.

Clothing and Styling provided by Little V Designs, Westborough.

Hair and Makeup by Rob Roy Hair Salons.

Laighla is a student from JRP New England.

8 AUGUST2015

editor in chief MELISSA SHAW 508-865-7070 ext. 201 editor@baystateparent.com

account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-865-7070 ext. 211 kathy@baystateparent.com

MEET OUR SPECIAL GUEST Eleven-year-old Laighla of Sharon will be entering the seventh grade this fall, but before she heads back she took some time to share fun facts with us.

creative

is published monthly with a main office at 22 West Street, Millbury, MA 01527 www.baystateparent.com It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts.

baystateparent.com Find us on:

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August Contributors On page 24, writer and Andover mother of three Wendy Bulawa Agudelo takes a look at SMILE Mass, a mom-led non-profit that is changing the accessibility landscape for families who want to enjoy Bay State beaches.

Jane Boursaw is the film critic and editor-in-chief of ReelLifeWithJane.com. On page 88 she gets you up to date on what’s coming to theatres and DVD this month.

Michelle Perras-Charron is a freelance writer and mom of four boys in Belchertown, so she knows a thing or two about getting children in the back-to-school swing. Read her story on page 58 and discover expert transition tips for preschoolers to teens.

Writer Jessica Day lives in Greenfield with her husband and two daughters, and this month shares an interview with delightful children’s author Natasha Lowe on page 40.

Writer and mother of two Michele Bennett Decoteau this month tackles an issue that sparks dread in every parent: lice. It’s a fact of life in schools — especially elementary —each year. Want to take preventative action? Head to page 64 and find out how.

Dr. Laura K. Grubb, MD, MPH, is an adolescent medicine specialist and general pediatrician at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, with expertise in public health policy in addition to medicine. On page 82, she answers this month’s Ask the Expert question, which covers co-ed party concerns and the importance of communication with your teenager.

Medfield writer and father of two Doug Page examines the hottest issue in Massachusetts public schools right now: which standardized test will students take this upcoming year? The issue is thick with controversy and opinions. Head to page 77 and get up to speed on the backstory and what’s at stake.

Attorney Irwin M. Pollack is founder and lead attorney of Pollack Law Group, P.C. (PollackLawGroup.com) and a divorced father himself. He shares insights and information about co-parenting on his weekly radio talk show, Talking About Divorce. On page 67, Irwin offers practical advice on how divorced or separated parents can best manage the back-to-school transition.

Massachusetts mom Leslie Reichert is known as the Green Cleaning Coach and is aiming to change the world — "one spray bottle at a time." A national lecturer and author of The Joy Of Green Cleaning, you can find her at greencleaningcoach.com, on Facebook (GreenCleaningCoach), Twitter (@GreenCleanCoach), and Pinterest (cleaningcoach) and page 37.

On page 33, Rutland-based writer and mother of three Kathy Sloan talks to two moms and slow-cooker enthusiasts who say the good, ’ol Crock-Pot is an easy way for busy families to enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals.

Abbey Tiderman is a writer, editor, and social media strategist who lives in Wilbraham with her husband and two young sons. On page 30 she starts a multi-part series on the fascinating subject of birth order.

Interested in joining our award-winning team of writers?

Have a story idea?

Email editor@baystateparent.com

JOIN US ONLINE!

Facebook.com/baystateparent twitter @baystateparent 10 AUGUST2015

BAYSTATEPARENT 11

bsp ONLINE “Your Little Friend” aka Your Period Can we get personal? Do you remember your first period? I’m guessing you remember all the details: What you were wearing (I was wearing a Smurfs nightgown); what you were doing (I was watching Little House on the Prairie in my basement); who helped you (my Mom gave me what appeared to be a diaper). We’re going to turn on the video camera and talk about our first periods and how we’re planning to break the news (aka prepare) our daughters. Watch for its release at baystateparent.com/Videos/.

Afterschool Photos Wanted For next month’s Captured section, we want to feature photos of your children enjoying their favorite afterschool activities: dance, the arts, sports, you name it! Email photos to editor@baystateparent.com with Captured in the subject line. Make sure you include your child’s first name, age, and the city or town in which you live.

Trick Out Your Locker Middle school lockers are akin to college dorms these days. Kids can deck them out with rugs, lamps, and wallpaper and totally own that little piece of prime real estate.

Want to win some of the goodies featured on page 74 Go to baystateparent.com/TrickOutLocker for details on how to enter!

Greater Quincy Child Care Center

Is Birth Order Accurate?

characteristics, personality traits, and temperaments. Parents, are you the oldest child in your family? Can you relate to the experts’ theories?

What about your children? Where and how does the article’s description line up in your family dynamic?

Ask the Expert Have a burning question regarding your child’s health or social/emotional well-being, or a family issue?

We have experts to provide insight and guidance. Submit questions (anonymously is fine) to editor@ baystateparent.com.

This month, we’re launching a five-part series on birth order, beginning with a closer look at the oldest child —

— Heather Kempskie Multimedia Editor heather@baystateparent.com

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SHOW & TELL ChoreMonster: Taking The Tension Out Of Family Chores I think kids should have chores.

I also know that I’m pretty lousy about setting up a system, factoring in allowance, and resisting the urge to just do everything myself.

Ever watch a 12-year-old boy shove recently-washed clothes in the wrong drawer? Then my sister told

me about the free ChoreMonster app (choremonster.com). Brilliant, it brings chore management online.

Founded in 2011 by two guys in Ohio, kids earn points by completing chores that they can then redeem with their parents for real-life rewards, like ice cream, an hour of Xbox, or even a canoe trip. Parent reward? A simple, hassle-free, digital system that takes the tension out of family chores. Log on to the Website, set up chores (or simply choose from those listed), add photos, and set up a rewards system.

Divide up chores between kids.

They log on to see what’s on tap and work towards whatever rewards you decide to dangle in front of them.

I think a nice, tight hug would suffice if my son actually took out the trash. We’ll see.

— Heather (heather@baystateparent.com)

The Towel for Water-Loving Families Most families love a trip to the beach, lake, or pool, and most Moms hate hauling everything that goes with it. (Let’s face it, we get stuck with the role of pack mule.) I certainly do, which was why I was inordinately excited by the beach towels from the Cuddlefish Towel Company. Its full-size (37x62) towels weigh just 11 ounces and fold down to the size of an iPad (in the picture above, they’re on the right, traditional beach towels on the left). You can stack several in a bag and still have room for more stuff — no more bag-just-for-the-towels.

Made of microfiber, they’re soft

and dry very quickly, eliminating the problem of a giant, soggy towel that’s dry for only one pass. I’m not sure about your family, but in mine no one respects whose towel is whose if they are wet, their towel is wet, and they spy another family member’s unattended dry towel. A quick-drying towel eliminates the “He took my towel!” chorus.

According to Cuddlefish, microfiber beach towels are all the rage in Naples, Italy, where city dwellers walk and then take ferries to their favorite beach spots, thereby desiring the lightest bag possible.

One of the company founders lives in Naples and her two sisters live in Rhode Island, making the business not only mom-owned but also international.

The towels are so ingenious and problem solving, of course moms were behind it. They cost $25 and can be purchased at cuddlefishtowelcompany.com.

— Melissa (melissa@baystateparent.com)

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LET’S GO

Your Family Guide to

North End Feasts

BY HEATHER KEMPSKIE, PHOTOS BY MATT CONTI AND JEFF TAMAGINI

S

teeped in tradition and coordinated by hundreds of devoted volunteers wishing to honor their Italian lineage, Boston’s North End festivals are the ultimate in cultural street parties. Visitors from around the world will head to the city’s “Little Italy” — a 1-squaremile waterfront community — this summer to munch on cannoli, enjoy entertainment under the stars, and partake in centuries-old processions down the street.

“The North End is one of Boston’s oldest residential communities,” says Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The longstanding traditions hosted by the people of the North End and the City of Boston make for an exciting, 14 AUGUST2015

memorable, experience, welcoming residents and visitors to enjoy all this community has to offer.

‘Northenders’ have a strong sense of pride that is seen across every street and alleyway. As Mayor, I love all of Boston’s neighborhoods, and am proud that the North End keeps its festivals going year after year. It will continue to inspire a strong sense of community in many generations to come.”

In the 1860s, the first Italians arrived in the North End, which at that time was a predominantly Jewish, Irish, and Portuguese neighborhood. New immigrants sought support and help from loved ones already settled, and the area quickly took on the look and feel of the

regions from which they came, including Sicily, Milan, Naples, and Genoa. By 1930, the North End was almost 100% Italian.

Domenic Strazzullo, a North End native and president of The Fisherman’s Club, says residents take pride in carefully preserving the traditions of their homeland, including honoring Catholic patron saints with festivals during the summer months.

“I grew up in the North End, my father was a member of another North End society, and since I was 16 I was going to meetings,” he says.

“My grandfather was a member of The Fisherman’s Club and I’m walking in his footsteps.”

The Fisherman’s Feast — held Aug.

13-16 — is the oldest continuously running Italian festival. And, according to Strazzullo, one of the most family-friendly ones, too.

“There is something for everyone.

We have over 80 street vendors with all types of cultural food including Italian, Mexican, you name it,” he says. “We have kiddie land with games and rides, and on the other end of the street there are wine tents and beer gardens. And on Sunday, we host kid-friendly activities like watermelon-eating contests and hacky sack competitions.”

The event culminates with the procession of the Madonna through the streets of the North End and the Flight of the Angel, in which a young girl, nominated by the society, dress-

es as an angel and “flies” out of a third-story window and down to the Madonna. After a short prayer, she is raised back up into the window to the cheers of the crowd and showers of confetti.

“I just got a call from a family in California who have already booked their rooms to attend,” Strazzullo says. “Many people come to discover things about their own grandparents or learn about relatives they never knew they had. A tour group from Sicily is coming, too. It’s a fun way to celebrate heritage and tradition.”

For more information on North End feasts, check out NorthEndBoston.com Upcoming Feasts All are free and open to the public.

Many feasts honor a patron saint, and attendees are invited to pin or attach money to the statues.

Festival organizers use the donations towards future festivals and/or donate to other charities.

Feast of Madonna Della Cava Aug. 7-9 Friday: 7-11 p.m.; Sat & Sun: Noon-11 p.m.

Sunday at 1 p.m.: Procession starts Battery & Hanover Streets MadonnaDellaCava.com The villagers from Pietraperzia congregated mostly on Battery, Charter and Hanover Streets, and on Salutation Alley. They brought with them both their faith in the Madonna Della Cava and their traditional celebration in her honor. The North End celebrates the Feast of Madonna Della Cava, which coincides with the festival held in Pietraperzia, Sicily.

Fisherman’s Feast of the Madonna Del Soccorso di Sciacca Aug. 13-16 Thursday at 6 p.m.: Blessing of the Fishing Waters at

Christopher Columbus Park Friday: 6-11 p.m.; Sat & Sun: Noon-11 p.m.

Sunday at 1 p.m. Grand Procession starts; 8 p.m. Flight of the Angel Fleet, Lewis & North Streets FishermansFeast.com The Feast traditionally starts on Thursday when the statue of the Madonna is moved from her home in the Fisherman’s Club to a chapel at the center of the feast, which will be her home throughout the weekend.

Thursday is also when the fishermen who founded the Feast are remembered with a blessing of the fishing waters.

Saint Anthony’s Feast Aug. 28-30 Friday: 7-11 p.m.; Sat & Sun: Noon-11 p.m.

Sunday at noon: Grand Procession starts Thacher, Endicott & N. Margin Streets StAnthonysFeast.com Begun in 1919 by Italian immigrants from the small town of Montefalcione in Avellino, Saint Anthony’s Feast has become the largest Italian religious festival in New England. Named the “Feast of all Feasts” by National Geographic magazine, this authentic Italian street festival has it all for people of every age: parades, strolling singers, live entertainment, contests, and religious services are held daily.

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St. Lucy’s Feast Aug. 31 5 p.m.: Procession starts Thacher & Endicott Streets StAnthonysFeast.com/StLucy.html The Saint Lucy Society of Boston is a chartered non-profit, religious organization founded in 1921 by Italian women immigrants. The members of this organization are dedicated to perpetuating the memory and devotion of their patron, Saint Lucy.

self-esteem, guide them in learning to relate effectively with others and foster their natural enthusiasm for learning.

limited openings available 2015-2016 school year At Small Miracles Preschool, the unique spirit of each child is acknowledged and cherished.

Our mission is to provide a loving, supportive environment where children thrive in an atmosphere of security and mutual respect.

We strive to nurture children’s

✴ Child-centered preschool program ✴ Nurturing, small group setting ✴ Developmentally appropriate, standards-based curriculum ✴ Ages 2.9 to 5 ✴ Two or three days, 9 am - 1 pm (5-day option available) Ellen Kerstein, M.S. in Ed Holliston, MA ellenkerstein@gmail.com BAYSTATEPARENT 15

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

Photo by Scotland Huber

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

- dr. seuss

GO BACK IN TIME Redcoats & Rebels.

Old Sturbridge Village.

Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

16 JULY2015

Photo by Marty Nee

Photo courtesy of Old Sturbridge Village

GO BREATHE Yoga in the Park. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln, Aug. 9, 10 a.m.

GO JAM Josh and the Jamtones. Dana Park, Cambridge. Aug 12, 10 a.m. Boarding House Park, Lowell: Aug. 13, 11 a.m.

GO SKETCH ICA Island. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston.

Aug. 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the mini-van, please confirm your destination.

Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change…

1 Saturday

ers, and tambourines while using their bodies, bubbles, pom-poms, and more. Designed for children 7 and under. $12. regattabarjazz.com.

Redcoats and Rebels. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge.

9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Come see the largest military re-enactment in New England with nearly 1,000 soldiers portraying European and Colonial troops.

The grounds will be transformed into a War for Independence camp, with music, cannon demonstrations, mock battles, baseball, and mingling with troops after 5 p.m. Free with admission.

Adults $24, children free. osv.org.

3 Monday MFA Playdates. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15 a.m. Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by art making.

Recommended for children ages 4 and under with adult. Free with admission. Members free, adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children 6 and under free. mfa.org.

Salem Maritime Festival. Salem National Historic Site, 160 Derby St., Salem. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Come for a day filled with fun, including free 90-minute harbor cruises, live music, a children’s craft tent, scavenger hunts, and more. Free. nps.gov/sama.

Rosalita’s Puppets. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market Building, Boston. 10 a.m. Experience the magic of Rosalita’s Puppets, with a new story and set of characters each time she performs.

Saturdays. Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

Zumba Kids. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 10:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Kids and adults join in a short, friendly Zumba class combining salsa, merengue, tango, and reggaeton dance styles. Free with admission. Members free, nonmember adults $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

An Arabian Adventure. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Follow as a courageous prince must battle his way out of an underground prison to save his princess from a tragic fate. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

Superhero Send-Off. Boston Public Library: Jamaica Plain Branch, 12 Sedgwick St., Jamaica Plain. 11a.m.-1:30 p.m. On the final day before the branch closure for renovation, come and enjoy a send-off filled with a pack of superheroes. Free. friendsjplibrary.org.

Photo by Merina Zeller

REC Farmers Market. YMCA Fuller Family Park, 104 Murray Ave., Worcester. 9:30 a.m.1 p.m. Come enjoy the best local fruits, vegetables, and crafts during this special farmers’ market. Also offering Yoga in the Park for all ages. Free. recworcester.org.

GO IMAGINE Boston Comic Con. Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, Aug. 1 & 2.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Come as we harvest vegetables and herbs right from the garden and make quick and easy pickles. Free. thetrustees.org.

LEGO Movie. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2 p.m. Enjoy this new family-favorite movie following an ordinary Lego construction worker who becomes an unlikely hero. For ages 12 and under. Free. worcpublib.org.

308 Congress St., Boston. 2 p.m. Join students of Westwood Chinese School for an exhibition of traditional Chinese culture and performing arts.

Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Superman III. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Come enjoy this 1983 continuance of the classic Superman film series, starring Christopher Reeve and Richard Pryor. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Roaring Twenties Lawn Party. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich.

3 p.m.-8 p.m. Step back to the Crane Estate’s heyday with a day full of swing dance lessons, a vintage fair, antique automobiles, lawn games, and the Baby Soda Jazz Band. Bring your own picnic or purchase refreshments.

Advance: members $20, nonmembers $25; Day-of: members $25, nonmembers $30. thetrustees.org.

Boston Comic Con. Seaport World Trade Center. 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston. Through Aug. 2. Meet the hottest comic book and sci-fi artists and celebrities, and much more.

Admission: $30 & up. bostoncomiccon.com.

Parkland Games. John W. Weeks Bridge, Cambridge. 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of fun outdoor games and activities within the parklands. Sundays. Free. thecharles.org.

2 Sunday

Pirate Shipwreck Palooza. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 11a.m.- 4 p.m. Join us for a fun day filled with pirate-themed crafts, shipwreck activities, and a treasure hunt.

Free with admission. Members free, nonmember adults $7, children 2 to 15 $3, children under 2 free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

PJ Library Family Beach Party. JCC Grossman Camp, 294 Powissett St., Dover.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Splash in the lake, go down the waterslide, build sandcastles, and enjoy singalongs during this day of family fun.

Registration recommended. Registered member families free, nonmember families $10, unregistered families $20. bostonjcc.org.

Making Garden Fresh Pickles. Nightingale Community Garden, 512 Park St., Dorchester.

Live Performance of Chinese Cultural Arts. Boston Children’s Museum,

Make Your Own Fruit Leather. Pierce Meadow Community Garden, 464 Abbott Ave., Leominster. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Learn how to make this healthy family snack, both with and without a dehydrator, which is always perfect for the summer. Members $10, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org.

Little Groove. The Regattabar at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge. 4:30 p.m. In this truly interactive music experience, children will use real instruments such as drums, shak-

Superhero Training. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Join Jungle Jim in this participatory event as he leads young patrons through the rigors of what it means to be a superhero and highlights some of the unsung heroes in our everyday lives. For ages 3 to 10. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Trivia Night. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Stretch your brain and win great prizes solo or in teams of up to six members for this fun night with four rounds of questions in a variety of categories.

Teens and families welcome. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

4 Tuesday Storytelling. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market Building, Boston. 10 a.m. Enjoy interactive tales spun by talented local performers. Tuesdays. Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

The Little Red Wagon. Magazine Beach, 668 Memorial Dr., Cambridge. 10 a.m. Join young Prince Amir as the stories he grew up on come to life to help him make important life decisions. Free. cambridgema.gov.

Salsa Making Workshop. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester.

2 p.m.-3 p.m. Join staff from the Regional Environmental Council, and learn how to make delicious and healthy salsa. Ages 12 and under.

Free. worcpublib.org.

5 Wednesday Tidepools & Wracklines. Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich.

9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Investigate the tidepools and wrackline on Steep Hill Beach using magnifying glasses, nets, and observation skills.

Register ahead. Member adults $10, children $5, nonmember adults $15, children $10. thetrustees.org.

Free First Wednesday. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

BAYSTATEPARENT 17

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! age 2 to 12 $13, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

Photo by Jana Leon

More Than Words Pop-Up Book Shop.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market Building, Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pick-up a great read from this Boston-based nonprofit, which teaches job skills to area youth. Thursdays.

Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

GO LISTEN Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower. The Regattabar at the Charles Hotel, Cambridge. Aug. 16, 4:30 p.m.

10 a.m. Venture through deCordova’s grounds and museums during this fun day of exploration.

Free. decordova.org.

Kids’ Art. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market Building, Boston. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Join a guided project with topics ranging from stenciling to origami. Wednesdays. Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

The Swan. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Come enjoy this non-verbal show perfect for our youngest audiences based on the Hans Christian Andersen story The Ugly Duckling. Through Saturday. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

Little Listeners. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick. 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

Enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and stretches, specifically designed for young children and

their families as we say “Hooray for Helpers.”

For children ages 2 & 3. Register ahead. Free. morseinstitute.org.

6 Thursday Marsh Madness. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Join us for a mud-licious adventure, as we explore mudflats, dig for razor clams, cheer for racing green crabs, and get as muddy as possible. Register ahead. Member adults $10, children $5; nonmember adults $15, children $10. thetrustees.org.

Seacoo Author Visit. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Author G. Johnson reads her heart-warming tale about as a lonely, inquisitive panda cub with a passion for reading. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $20, children

Cohasset Farmers Market. Cohasset Common, North Main Street, Cohasset. 2 p.m.6 p.m. Come enjoy locally cultivated organic produce, cheeses, prepared foods, and barbeque, while enjoying local musicians, artisan crafts, and more. Thursdays. cohassetfarmersmarket.com.

Giving Earth. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

Come and enjoy a fun recycled craft creating robots.

For ages 12 and under. Free. worcpublib.org.

Geocaching. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Enjoy this family-fun activity akin to a modernday treasure hunt. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Salem Farmers’ Market. Derby Square, Front Street, Salem. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy the best of locally grown and prepared food and new bands every week at this early evening farmers’ market.

Thursdays. Free. salemfarmersmarket.org.

Malik the Magic Guy. Worcester Public Library: Tatnuck Branch, 1083 Pleasant St., Worcester. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Family-favorite performs a special show incorporating this year’s summer reading theme, “Read Like a Hero.”

Free. worcpublib.org.

Astro Boy. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Enjoy this animated movie based on the manga and anime series of the same name. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Eric Royer & Movie. ECSB Parking Lot, 292 Cambridge St., Cambridge. 7 p.m. Watch this unique one-man-band bluegrass performance using his homemade “Guitar Machine,” before enjoying a secret movie. Free. cambridgema.gov.

7 Friday Kids’ Fitness. Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market Building, Boston. 10 a.m. Enjoy a fun fitness class ranging from yoga, Zumba, or more, where parents can jump in with their kids for an active start to the day. Fridays. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

Baby Massage and Yoga. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester.

11:30 p.m.-12 p.m. Caregivers and infants are welcomed to the library to learn and experience special yoga and massage techniques from South Bay Early Childhood. For infants 18 months and under with caregiver. Free. worcpublib.org.

Lunch Break on D. The Lawn on D, 420 D St., Boston. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of games, food trucks, and some of the best music from The Berklee Summer in the City program.

Fridays. Free. lawnond.com.

Swimmy. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

Come watch the Puppet Tree use shadow puppets and stunning animation to bring the Caldecott Honor Book to life. Free. worcpublib.org.

Assassins. Shore Country Day School, 545 Cabot St., Beverly. 8 p.m. Watch as Boston Children’s Theater puts on this favorite musical from the mind of Stephen Sondheim, telling the story of nine individuals who assassinated or tried to assassinate the President of the United States. $10-$20. bostonchildrenstheatre.org.

Astronomy After Hours. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

FREE! 3 $ $

Souvenir Cup of Animal Feed.

Expires 8/31/15.

Not Valid with offer Discounts or Packages. BSP8

Looking for parenting support?

UMass Memorial Medical Center and New England Prenatal and Family Education offer classes for expecting women, new moms, their families and support persons.

Call 1-855-366-5221 or visit umassmemorial.org/healthymoms UMassMemorial Medical Center

©2015 Davis Farmland

BSP8 COUPON 4.875X2.875 7-5-15.indd 18DFL JULY2015

1

7/5/15 5:23 PM

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

8 Saturday Free Family Fun Day. Project Native, 342 North Plain Rd., Housatonic. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Join us at the farm for a fun-filled morning of exciting and educational activities, including a butterfly and bug safari, self-guided story walks, and more. Free. projectnative.org.

Beyond the Spectrum. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Explore the theme of “Around the World” and see that not everything is always quite what it appears to be. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

Stilt Walking. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Plunge into playful pedestrianism to experience the Sculpture Park from a new height during this guided tour on stilts. For ages 8 and up. Members $12, nonmembers $20. decordova. org.

Boston Mobile Dance Studio. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

1 p.m. Enjoy a hip-hop dance performance followed by a workshop led by the dancers. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Tightrope Walking. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

2 p.m.-3 p.m. Test your physical and mental balance during tightrope lessons at varying heights across the Sculpture Park. For ages 8 and up.

Members $12, nonmembers $20. decordova.org.

PorchfestFEST. The Lawn on D, 420 D St., Boston. 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Come listen to a huge range of music from Motown, gospel, jazz and R&B, to world, folk, and rock and roll, performed on multiple front porches before celebrating with a dance party. Free. lawnond.com.

Thoroughly Modern Millie. Lawrence A. Griffin Theatre, Shore Country Day School, 545 Cabot St., Beverly. 8 p.m. Enjoy this production of the Tony Award-winning musical set in 1922 New York, performed by Boston Children’s Theatre’s pre-professional training programs. $10-$20. bostonchildrenstheatre.org.

Photo by Jana Leon

Visit the Gilliland Observatory on the roof of the Museum’s parking garage to view stars, planets, the Moon, and other astronomical phenomenon.

Fridays. Free. mos.org.

9 Sunday Yoga in the Park. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Get moving as a family during this professionally-led, kid-friendly yoga in the Sculpture Park. For ages 3 to 12 with caregiver. Members free, children $5. decordova.org.

Mushroom Foraging. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

10:30 a.m.-1p.m. Bring a basket and a brown bag lunch, and search the grounds for mushrooms and other fungi with artist Wendy Jacob and the Boston Mycological Club. Free. decordova.org.

Fashioning Alcott Fairy Houses. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard.

12 p.m. Using natural materials and gardening supplies, children and the young-at-heart are invited to make their own fairy houses inspired by those created by the Alcott sisters. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

GO TINKER JUNK Festival & Tinker Tent. Boston Children’s Museum.

Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

10 Monday Rona Leventhal. Sennott Park, 301 Broadway St., Cambridge. 10 a.m. Join this amazing storyteller as she journeys around the world and back with her large bag of multi-cultural stories tucked in her imagination. Free. cambridgema.gov.

Dog Training Workshop for Teens. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join us for a dog training workshop demonstrating positive energy, agility, and nose-work. For ages 11 to 18. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

11 Tuesday

Renaissance of Ravenswood. Ravenswood Park, 330 Western Ave., Gloucester. 1 p.m.3 p.m. Join us on this guided walk as you learn about the colorful characters who have helped make Ravenswood the treasure it is today.

Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

Matt Heaton Family Singalong. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Join the Toddlerbilly Troubadour during this infectious singalong peppered with well-known classics and a few soonto-be-known classics performed on guitar and banjo. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Things That Fly. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Join us for drop-in stations to create things that fly during this hands-on crafternoon. For children entering kindergarten through Grade 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Hands-On History. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Explore the museum’s Native American stone tool collection during this afternoon of crafts, history hunts, and special gallery activities for kids and families. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 5 to 18 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

12 Wednesday

Samurai: Knights of the East. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Discover the differences between Samurais and Knights during this fun, educational performance. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $14, children ages 4 to 17 $6, children 3 and under free. worcesterart.org.

Creating Faces. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 1:30 p.m. Artist Antonio Mendez will demonstrate drawing a portrait and then lead a hands-on workshop on how to create faces through drawing and composition with cut-outs. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Hiawatha. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Accompanied by Native American flute and drum, this production features exquisitely crafted puppets following a curious young boy as he enters a magical world full of talking animals and fantastical spirits. Through Saturday. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

Wall-E. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2 p.m. Come and enjoy this family-favorite Pixar film following the titular robot that finds new purpose in life when he meets a new research robot, EVE. Free. worcpublib.org.

Josh and the Jamtones. Dana Park, Corporal McTernan and Lawrence Street, Cambridge.

10 a.m. Come join this all-ages-friendly reggae/ ska band during an interactive performance sure to keep kids engaged. Free. cambridgema.gov.

Nature’s Ship. Norris Reservation, 26 Dover St., Norwell. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Families are invited to go on a hike, where we will collect pieces of nature to then construct all-natural ships to send down the North River or take home as a memory of a great afternoon. Members $10, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org.

Villain Time. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Let out your inner villain as you build a city from recycled materials and then destroy it. For ages 5 to 8. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

3D Printing Workshop. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m.

Learn how 3D printing works by using Tinkercard to design your own three-dimensional creation.

For Grades 6 to 12. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Meteor Shower Hike. Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich.

7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Come join this stargazing adventure for the whole family, where we will hike down to Steep Hill Beach and hope to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Register ahead. Member adults $10, children $5; nonmember adults $15, children $10. thetrustees.org.

13 Thursday Children’s Dance and Movement Class.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

10 a.m.-10:45 a.m. Stretch, move, and shake to music during this specially designed dance program. For ages 2 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Josh and the Jamtones. Boarding House Park, 40 French St., Lowell, 11 a.m. Enjoy this BAYSTATEPARENT 19

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Redcoats and Rebels

AUGUST 1 & 2 OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE

all-ages-friendly reggae/ska band and its interactive show. Free. lowellsummermusic.org.

15 Saturday

The Family Games. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St., Canton. 3 p.m.5 p.m. Family members work together requiring communication and other skills to take on hands-on activities to attempt to match the challenge master. Members $10, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org,

Garden Tops and Bottoms. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. Discover the edible tops and bottoms of vegetables growing in our Children’s Garden and help us harvest some to enjoy. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $7, children 2 to 15 $3, children under 2 free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

Do You Have the Courage to be a Hero?

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Join the swordsmen of the Guardian’s Castle in a heroic journey of your own, complete with foam swords, costumes, and puzzles. For ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

The Boogaloo Collective and Film. Volpe NTS Center Lawn, 55 Broadway St., Cambridge.

7 p.m. Celebrate the era of salsa music of the late ’60s and early ’70s when Latin music and R&B came together in New York City, then watch a family-friendly surprise film. Free. cambridgema.gov.

Field of Dreams Outdoors. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord. 8 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and sit under the stars outside to watch this Kevin Costner family favorite film. Free. concordmuseum.org.

New eNglaNd’s largest revolutioNary war reeNactmeNt more thaN 1000 costumed soldiers

Star Party. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams St., Milton. 8:30 p.m.-11 p.m.

Join the Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston as they bring their telescopes and teach you about stars, planets, and other worlds in the night sky.

Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

mock battles aNd skirmishes

14 Friday

twilight eNcampmeNt | saturday Night

Guerriere the Terrier’s Birthday Party. USS Constitution Museum, Building 22, Charlestown Navy Shipyard, Boston. Come celebrate Guerriere the Terrier’s birthday with family fun activities, including crafts, temporary tattoos, and birthday cookies. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

musket demoNstratioNs MEDIA SPONSOR

Sky High. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Come enjoy this live-action Disney movie that asks what it means to be a hero and be yourself. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Massachusetts

MAKE HISTORY! 20 JULY2015

WWW.OSV.ORG

Movie in the Park: Homeward Bound. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 8:15 p.m. Pack some snacks, blankets, and chairs, and bring the whole family to this outdoor screening following three beloved pets on a quest home. Members free, nonmembers $5. decordova.org.

CHEM Fest. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Find out what it’s really like to be a chemist, explore the chemistry of candy, use science to create a beautiful toy, and engage with chemists from all over the United States gathering in Boston on this day.

Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

9th Annual Salem Jazz and Soul Festival.

Salem Willows, 167 Fort Ave., Salem. 11a.m.7:15 p.m. Enjoy plenty of fantastic music from a variety of local musicians, during this day filled with kids activities, an artisan’s fair, and free music-education classes. Free. salemjazzsoul.org.

2nd Annual Country MusicFest. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and settle in while enjoying great food to the sounds of some of the best local and national talent, during this day offering craft vendors and a journey on the SkyRide. Adults $20-$35, children $6-$17. wachusett.com.

Card Corner. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. & 3 p.m.-4 p.m.

Come and play your favorite trading card games using your own deck or one of ours, during this two-session day for ages 8 and up, and 11 and up, respectively. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Bird Park Movie Night. Francis William Bird Park, 59 Rhoades Ave., East Walpole. 7 p.m.9 p.m. Enjoy a family friendly movie outside with refreshments and great company. Free. thetrustees.org.

Beneath the Starry Sky. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Spend an evening with us learning about the amazing Perseid Meteor Showers through handson activities, scanning the skies, and using our telescopes, with s’mores around the campfire to finish the night. Register ahead. Members $7, nonmembers $10. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

16 Sunday Textile Weekend. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. If you are interested in 1830s fashion and period dress, enjoy this annual highlight on 19th-century textiles, focusing on the elegance of men and women. Free with admission. Adults $24, children free. osv.org.

19 Wednesday Toddler Time on the Farm. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. 10 a.m. Help out with the farm work by planting seeds, watering raised beds, and picking vegetables during a morning of stories, songs, and activities. For age 2.

Reserve ahead. Members free, children $10. goreplace.org.

WhO KneW

hiStOry

Redcoats COuld be SO 20 Thursday and Rebels inSpiring!

Critter Day: Teaching Creatures. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Get up close and personal with a variety of animals that want to say hello to you.

Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Chantey and Maritime Sing. USS Constitution Museum, Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Listen, learn, and lift your voices as you participate in your maritime heritage by joining a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum. Free. ussconstituionmuseum.org.

With Their Own Eyes: Every Child a Poet.

The Old Manse, 269 Monument St., Concord.

3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Parents and caregivers are invited to bring their children to engage with poetry while exploring the nature surrounding the Old Manse, which inspired Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau. For ages 8 to 12. Member children $15, nonmember children $25, adults free. thetrustees.org.

Elizabeth Mitchell and You Are My Flower. The Regattabar at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge. 4:30 p.m. Join this twice Grammy-nominated singer during her performance of folk music designed for children and performed with her family. $12. regattabarjazz.com.

18 Tuesday 3D Printing for Kids. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Join this interactive program to learn how 3D printing works and design your own three-dimensional creation. For children entering Grades 2 to 5.

Register ahead. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Underdog. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Learn what it means to be a superhero in this live-action adaptation of the classic animated story. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Teen Crafterhours. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Create your own comic book duct tape wallet during this fun evening of discussion, crafting, and snacking. For Grades 6 to 12. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

31st Annual Massachusetts Tomato Contest. Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Experience the best tomatoes from farmers across Massachusetts as they are judged by a panel of experts for excellence in numerous qualities across many categories. Free. thetrustees.org.

Sparky’s Puppets. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick. 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Enjoy this puppet-filled story following a mouse that saves a lion. Designed for children ages 4 and up. Free. morseinstitute.org.

Art Quest. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St., Canton. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Through artful expressions, families are invited to explore the Estate, then create collages to take home. Members $15, nonmembers $25. thetrustees.org.

21 Friday Rock Off Main Street. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 7:30 p.m. This all-ages show provides a venue for regional bands to take their eclectic mix of music out of their basements and onto the stage where it belongs. $8. natickarts.org.

Pajama Party in PlaySpace. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

7:30 p.m. Toddlers, wear your pajamas to the Museum on Friday night and join us for games, songs, and picture-stories. Free with admission.

Members free, nonmembers $1. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

22 Saturday

OPEN DAILY RedcoatS and RebelS | aug. 1 & 2 cRaft: beeRS + tRadeS | Sept. 19 & 20 dig in: a field-to-table feStival | oct. 17 & 18 bounty: a neW england thankSgiving nov. 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22 and 26 WinteR MaRket | nov. 27 – 29 chRiStMaS by candlelight dec. 4 – 6, 11 – 13 and 18 – 20

Art + Market. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Join us for a colorful community experience across the entire WAM campus offering folkinspired art vendors, cultural groups, and live local music during this pet-friendly event. Free. worcesterart.org.

Folk Art Festival. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

Old Sturbridge Village Sturbridge, Massachusetts

MAKE HISTORY!

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FREE

Fun Fridays August 2015

Take advantage of free admission to statewide museums and attractions this month!

For more info, visit highlandstreet.org.

Aug. 7 Boston Harbor Islands National Park The Greenway Carousel The Old State House Concord Museum Worcester Historical Museum Springfield Museums Hancock Shaker Village

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

The Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River Historic Deerfield Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Aug. 21 Franklin Park Zoo The Freedom Trail Foundation Museum of African American History Discovery Museums Buttonwood Park Zoo Emily Dickinson Museum Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival Aug. 28 Old Sturbridge Village Plimoth Plantation Clark Art Museum Mass MOCA Ecotarium Griffin Photography Museum Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

Aug. 14 John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum USS Constitution Museum Cape Cod Children’s Museum Fuller Craft Museum

Come for an entire day of fun activities and events, including Folk Tale and Tall Tale storytelling, food trucks, art-making, and craftspeople.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children ages 4 to 17 $6, children 3 and under free. worcesterart.org.

junk, watch, and listen to something awesome being played on junk, buy some museum junk to take home, or make some noise in our junk sound garden. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 12 months free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Clown Circus. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Watch brightly-colored characters and listen to original music as you join Tarta, Zany, and Pierrot for this fun, interactive variety show. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

24 Monday

Lucerne and Balsam Street Garden Open Day. Lucerne & Balsam Street Community Garden, 74 Lucerne St., Dorchester. 12 p.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate the opening of this newly renovated community garden with an evening filled with music and barbeque food. Free. thetrustees.org.

Karen K & The Jitterbugs. The Regattabar at the Charles Hotel, 1 Bennett St., Cambridge.

4:30 p.m. Hang out with Karen K in her imaginary backyard fort during this crowd-engaging theatrical show filled with upbeat, family-pleasing songs. $12. regattabarjazz.com.

23 Sunday

10 Off

JUNK Festival and Tinker Tent. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Come make something with

Morningstar Access Day. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 8 a.m.10 a.m. Visit the museum during this morning designed for families with special or medical needs, including ASL interpreters, large print maps, and low crowd levels. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum. org.

Insurgent. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments during this showing of the favorite Divergent book-turned-film series’ second movie.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7p.m. Join Indiana Jones as he attempts to retrieve a precious gem and kidnapped young boys on behalf of a remote East Indian Village. Adults $12, children $10. coolidge.org.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

25 Tuesday Balanced Plate Scavenger Hunt. Lexington Farmers’ Market, 5 Fletcher Ave., Lexington.

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Parents are invited to participate with their children in a fun, active photo Scavenger Hunt around the Farmers’ Market that focuses on putting together a balanced dinner plate with local, fresh, and colorful foods. For children entering Grades 4 to 6. Register ahead.

Free. carylibrary.org.

26 Wednesday Fun with Pancakes. Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. 9 a.m.-11 a.m.

Experiment with the science of food, as the Boston Public Market hosts educators from the Boston Children’s Museum who show that sometimes playing with your food can also be educational. $25. thetrustees.org.

In Their Glory…Cherry Tomatoes. Weir River Farm, 227 East St., Hingham. 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. Come walk the cherry tomato fields to see how many varieties grow. Members $15, nonmembers $25. thetrustees.org.

Rainforest Reptile Show. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell.

1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Beat the summer heat and view reptiles live during this family-favorite presentation, after which you may decide to hold a snake

yourself. Members $7, nonmembers $10. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

27 Thursday Back in the Day Play. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St., Canton.

12 p.m.-3 p.m. Families are invited to come, make friends, and play lawn games from back in the day, including bocce, badminton, croquet, giant checkers, and giant chess. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

28 Friday KidsJam. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Join this all-ages dance party led by kids, with a live DJ, dance lessons, and intergenerational dance battles. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $1. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

29 Saturday The Amazing Family Race. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St., Canton.

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Using a compass and a map, help your family journey across the Estate in search of clues that will lead you to the finish line where there is treasure to be found. Members $20, nonmembers $35. thetrustees.org.

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Boston, 100 Northern Ave., Boston. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Sail down to the ICA and discover treasure, design your own artwork, sketch and frame your favorite view of Boston Harbor, and construct upto-date landscape paintings. Free for families with children ages 6 to 12. icaboston.org.

Farm Fresh Festival. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 10 a.m.5 p.m. Enjoy this festival featuring the best from local growers, a craft fair, workshops, live music, and plenty of family activities from pony rides to petting zoos. Through Sunday. Adults $5-$7, children under 12 free. wachusett.com.

Superman IV. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 1 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Enjoy this 1987 continuation of the classic Superman series, starring Christopher Reeve as the Man of Steel taking on the U.S.-Soviet nuclear arms race. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

KidzBop Live. The Wilbur, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 5 p.m. Ashlynn, Bredia, Grant, and Matt bring their “Make Some Noise” tour back to Boston. Tickets $25-$50. thewilbur.com.

Full Moon & Folklore Hike. Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Come on this evening hike as we view the special Red Moon, also called the Green Corn Moon, the Grain Moon, Dog Days Moon, and Sturgeon Moon. Recommended for

ages 13 and up. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org.

Full Moon Hike. Noanet Woodlands, 61 Powisset St., Dover. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Join an REI Outdoor School instructor for a guided night hike at one of the area’s best hiking venues. REI members $25, nonmembers $45. thetrustees.org.

30 Sunday The Pirate, the Princess, and the Pea. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Come along on a thrilling voyage chock full of sea monsters, shipwrecks, and mistaken pirate/princess identities filled with colorful scenery, original pirate songs, and multiple styles of puppetry. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

31 Monday 3D Design and Printing. Teen Central Lab, Boston Public Library: Central Branch, 700 Boylston St., Boston. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Using 3D modeling software, such as Tinkercard and 123D Design, you are invited to design unique three-dimensional objects that we’ll print. For ages 13 to 18. Free. bpl.org.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

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BAYSTATEPARENT 23

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

SMILE Mass Donates

Floating Wheelchairs to Massachusetts Beaches

Also: Rolling Thunder Special Needs Running Program Races Into The Bay State

BY WENDY BULAWA AGUDELO

M

assachusetts beaches beckon families with promises of sun-kissed warmth atop white sand as waves crash against the shore.

Play or rest time on the beach is heaven on earth.

For individuals relegated to using wheelchairs, however, access to wondrous escapes like these is not simply daunting, it can oftentimes be nearly impossible. Hundreds of thousands of children and their families find themselves unable to enjoy the lush landscapes of public beaches, ponds, and parks simply because they aren’t handicap accessible.

Many of us infrequently consider how much work goes into preparing for a beach outing as we ready our gear — chairs, coolers, beach toys, towels, sunblock, umbrella, and a tiny tent. And transporting all those supplies, plus a family in tow, across a few feet of sand can be a struggle.

So imagine trying to get a 100-pound child in a 100-pound wheelchair up and over the dunes, plus all the other supplies, too. The process becomes much more difficult and a reason why trips to the beach are often completely abandoned by many families.

For mother of two Lotte Diomede of Sudbury, the challenge of finding an appropriate vacation spot for her family became a labor of love as her son Nicholas, born prematurely with Hydrocephaly, is confined to a wheelchair. Diomede believed that her family should be able to leverage the wonders of our beautiful state, so in 2009, she flexed her Danish-born muscle and marketing background to fundraise and help build the first fully-handicap accessible playground in Sudbury (40 Fairbanks Rd. at the intersection of Hudson Road) so her son, daughter, and thousands of other

happy, healthy children could enjoy the simple pleasure of fully inclusive playground play.

“I got such a sense of satisfaction seeing the playground project reach fruition,” Diomede said. “Seeing my children and others play together was unbelievable. I realized the playground project was merely scratching the surface and that we could do so much more.” And more she did.

By 2010, she founded SMILE (Small Miracles In Life Exist), a 501(c)3 non-profit with a mission to provide

memories to families living with children or adults with disabilities.

SMILE Mass, comprised of two volunteer moms — Diomede and Susan Brown — works closely with recreational facilities to provide accessible opportunities and state-of-the-art equipment to anyone with mobility challenges.

With her mission in hand, Diomede decided that it was time that every family have access to summertime activities without the added expense of purchasing/owning/renting necessary, adaptive equipment —

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which often costs thousands of dollars.

SMILE Mass’s initial undertaking became the Beach Project, which focused on delivering floating beach wheelchairs to public beaches across Massachusetts. The wheelchairs travel from parking lot, over sand, and into the water where they float. All told, the organization has donated more than 95 beach wheelchairs to Cape Cod beaches; Crane’s Beach (Ipswich); Carson Beach and Spectacle Island (Boston); Nantasket Beach (Hull); Revere Beach; Nahant Beach; those in Wayland, Harvard, Scituate, and Natick; and Hampton Beach, N.H. This summer, the organization donated several chairs to Plymouth Beach, as well as those in New Bedford, Sharon, and Duxbury.

“This is a no-brainer,” Diomede said. “Every United States citizen pays taxes, so when town officials initially say, ‘We can’t financially afford this,’ it blows my mind. Every public beach should be accessible by all citizens.” She points out that universal accessibility means so much more than nearby parking spots. “More than 12% of our population is impacted by a lack of accessibility. While we may be able to drive there, what happens once we arrive? How do I push my son’s wheelchair up and over the dunes to the beach?”

Beach goers may not even notice

the yellow-wheeled chairs driving along the wave break or floating nearby. But these mechanical wonders deliver something incredibly special for individuals with disabilities — many of who rarely get the opportunity to enjoy even the most common summer activities.

Beyond the SMILE Beach Project, SMILE Mass also operates an Equipment Loaner Program though which families can borrow — free of charge — adaptive equipment during their vacations. SMILE Mass currently has 10 floating wheelchairs that can be signed out by families for a day or a week.

The two-woman, volunteer mom team at SMILE Mass isn’t stopping, either. The non-profit’s greater purpose is to become widely recognized as the leading resource for handicap accessibility in vacation rentals. Therefore, the next project on SMILE Mass’s radar is the purchase of a house on Cape Cod that will be designed and retrofit for universal accessibility.

“My goal is to have the property purchased by March and prepared for rental by the summer of 2016,” Diomede said. While an aggressive goal, she shared that she already has a wealth of volunteer support and donations at the ready, from appliances to contractors. “We envision this home to be a showcase home for every business or individ-

ual that supports its development — and hopefully, others to follow.”

Similar to the Sudbury playground, the future Cape Cod property may very well be the first fully accessible, universally-designed property in Massachusetts. “If it was up to us, we’d build a house like this in every vacation location across the globe,” she added.

SMILE Mass has ostentatious goals, too. They hope to eventually hire a full-time delivery and maintenance team to support their donation and equipment loaner programs, so that more attention can be focused on fundraising and further establishing supports for all families.

“Until now, I could only dream of a vacation where we had all the equipment we needed, a place where my daughter can feel just as special, a place away from home where we could build memories that would last a lifetime,” Diomede said. “It is this dream that I would like to make a reality for any family that experiences a similar situation in life.”

providing experiences is the main focus. Many organizations across the Bay State provide adaptive water activities (canoeing, kayaking, and sailing) and this year, the Rolling Thunder Special Needs Program debuted in MetroWest and Boston.

Founded in 1998, Rolling Thunder is a nationally-recognized, highperformance and inclusive athletic running/walking/wheelchair training and racing program for youth and adults with special needs, comprised exclusively of volunteers.

Athletes associated with Rolling Thunder, ages 5 through 50+, compete not only in road and crosscountry races, but also in track and field meets.

Coordinated in Boston by Coach Amanda Russell, Rolling Thunder/ Massachusetts currently meets each week for practice in Cambridge and Lexington (Cambridge’s Danehy Park on Monday and Wednesday evenings and Lexington’s Center Track, Worthen Road, on Saturday mornings).

“I heard about Rolling Thunder/ Long Island just as I was getting motivated to start a running club.

It aligned with everything I believe in and wished a club to be,” Russell said. “With no connection to the special needs community, I wondered if [the founder of Rolling Thunder] would be willing to let me start a local chapter of his organiza-

Rolling Thunder Runs Into Massachusetts Adaptive programs aren’t exclusively focused on equipment, as

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BAYSTATEPARENT 25

SEVEN HILLS CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL

“In just a few weeks, we’ve

seen growth in every athlete — all of which will translate more into their daily lives.”

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Seven Hills Charter Public School is a free independent public school that offers challenging academic programs for children in grades K through 8.

OTHER IMPORTANT FEATURES ARE:

- Amanda Russell, Coach Rolling Thunder/Massachusetts

• Two outstanding educators in each core classroom • A longer school day and year • An emphasis on college and career readiness • An enriched curriculum including character education, integrated arts and technology • A commitment to family involvement • An appreciation of diversity • Comprehensive programs for students with special needs or English language learning needs Applications are available in our main office. Bring Birth Certificate & two proofs of address.

Application Deadline: February 5, 2016 Location: Seven Hills Charter Public School, 51 Gage Street Worcester MA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS

The Seven Hills Charter School is a tuition - free public school serving Worcester's children. With no admission test, the school serves a student body that is representative of Worcester's diversity. Seven Hills Charter Public School does not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, gender identity, cultural heritage, linguistic background, political beliefs, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin. In the event that there are more applicants than seats, a lottery will be used to select students.

tion. He was coincidentally looking to branch out, so here we are!”

The team, already 18 members strong, is comprised of athletes, siblings, and parents. “It’s a great opportunity to share an experience with their children, and many parents are continuously overjoyed and surprised by what their child is accomplishing physically, behaviorally, and socially. In just a few weeks, we’ve seen growth in every athlete — all of which will translate more into their daily lives,” Russell said.

The organization boasts that no individual is turned away due to his or her disability and all are welcome. Rolling Thunder athletes maintain the following diagnoses: autism, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Down syndrome, hearing impairment, hip dysplasia, intellectual and learning delays, seizure

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Further, membership in Rolling Thunder and participation in all team practices, most races, racing uniform, and racing wheelchair, if needed, are provided free. The Massachusetts chapter of Rolling Thunder is beginning to select end of summer/early fall road and crosscountry races for their fall racing schedule and has plans to join the Long Island chapter for the Flutie 5K in October. Rolling Thunder also hosts social events providing opportunities for members, many of who have limited or fewer social engagements.

For more information about Rolling Thunder/Massachusetts contact Russell at RollingThunderBoston@gmail.com.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

Preparing Your Daughter (And Yourself)

For Her Period

BY HEATHER KEMPSKIE

She’s going to get it. Some day. A period. Period.

For parents of tween girls, that reality gets closer everyday. And, for better or for worse, parents’ actions, words, and attitude about this significant and inevitable milestone can make or break a girl’s experience moving forward.

“A lot of parents don’t want their little girl to grow up. It’s hard,” says Suzan Hutchinson, menstrual activist, educator, and founder of PeriodWise.com. “They don’t want to accept she is getting older. In fact, they are not expecting [her period to ever arrive]. They are in total shock.”

Let’s remove the shock factor. According to experts, girls, on average, will get their period about two years after the onset of breast budding — when tissue begins forming under the areola.

Taking into consideration girls of all ethnic back-

28 AUGUST2015

grounds, this means “Aunt Flo” will come knocking when a girl is about 12 years and six months old. And she will then stick around right through menopause.

But be forewarned: The average age of puberty has been steadily dropping since the early 20th century, when girls experienced their first period at age 16 or 17, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Studies on the effects of hormones in foods, such as meat and milk, as factors in early puberty have been inconclusive. Dr. Andrea Zuckerman, chief of pediatric and adolescent gynecology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, attributes the age shift to better nutrition and overall health compared to hundreds of years ago.

“But the major thing that has changed in the last 50 years is an increase in obesity among adolescents,” Dr. Zuckerman says. “Obesity does seem to play a role in earlier onset of puberty. Not for all kids, but definitely for some.”

Unless a child is very young — as in, under 7 years old — doctors will not intervene with methods to delay menstruation and instead will let nature takes its course.

Whether the monthly “friend” becomes a sworn enemy or more of a tolerable neighbor will depend greatly upon from whom and where tween girls get their information. No matter how uncomfortable it may seem to discuss menstruation, it is both a milestone and a major turning point in the lives of all young women.

“The onset of menses can be a confusing time, but talking about the details will help confusion give way to comfort,” says Wendy Bulawa Agudelo, Andover mom and “Chief Maxi” of Period Packs, a small business that offers a line of periodthemed gift packages that “welcome young ladies to womanhood.”

“There’s much to cover — from product choices (pads, liners, tampons, menstrual cups, feminine sprays, wipes, etc.), to grooming, hygiene, and even the ‘joy’ of chocolate consumption. Many young women will look to their peers or the Internet for information on menstruation, but their best sources are their parents or caregivers who can dole out information with proper context and support. This is one time when talk is not overrated.”

Dr. Zuckerman says talking to girls about their period is also agedependent. “A patient that is 8, versus one that is 10, versus one that is 14, they all have varying abilities to deal with it,” she says. “I think it’s important whenever you are talking to your child to use the right terms: ‘You’re shredding the lining of your uterus and that’s what the bleed is from. This is normal. This happens.

We can do things to make you more comfortable during this time. If you get cramping, we can give you medication to help.’”

Speaking of cramps: Just because a woman has periods accompanied by bloating, cramps, backaches and/or headaches doesn’t necessarily mean her daughter is destined to suffer the same fate. The truth is that every woman experiences periods differently. “Try not to have your own lessthan-positive experience play into how you feel about your daughter getting hers,” Dr. Zuckerman advises.

“I think it’s helpful for parents to remain positive about this. In the way, way past, girls were isolated when they had their period and were treated like they were dirty and this wasn’t a normal part [of life]. I think it’s important to stay positive and to say, ‘Everyone experiences periods differently. I get a lot of cramps and

{ {

maybe you won’t. Or vice versa.

However, if you do get bad cramps or your periods are heavy, we can take you to a provider or doctor who can help you with this and we can help make it so you are able to go to school or soccer or cheer.’”

The bottom line: If girls don’t get information from their parents, they are going to find it elsewhere — and later than they need it.

“They risk poor body image or maybe feelings that their mom (or other parental figure) has let them down,” says PeriodWise.com’s Hutchinson. “They will go to the TV or Internet or to their friends and all the information will not be exactly accurate.”

A child’s pediatrician is another valuable resource for medical questions and overall encouragement, but don’t underestimate the value of older female relatives and confidants in easing a younger generation’s transition into menses. Agudelo, also a baystateparent contributing writer, says that sharing personal stories and bringing those memories to the forefront can make an awkward time much less uncomfortable.

“Talking about personal menstrual experiences reinforces how normal menstruation is, while adding much-appreciated humor to a conversation,” she adds. “I, personally,

remember when adhesive-backed pads didn’t even exist and I had to wear belt-based pads. Every time I think about those belts, I realize what fun I’m going to have telling my daughter about menstrual solutions of yesteryear, while at the same time, creating a special bonding moment between us.”

What About Dads?

Most dads, understandably so, request a pass when it comes to talking puberty specifics with their daughters, but there’s a significant purpose that they must serve to make this time a positive experience for her. In other words, this is not the time to withdraw from the relationship.

“Dad has to be comfortable with changes,” Hutchinson explains.

“It will be difficult for the child to be comfortable with who they are becoming if Dad becomes standoffish. She needs his acceptance. If she doesn’t get that from her father or father figure, she’ll look somewhere else for it and at a very vulnerable time of her life.”

She adds, most touchingly: “He is not going to lose who she was. He is going to gain who she will become.”

And that goes for all of us.

Blame It On The Hormones

Physical changes also mean emotional ones. All this estrogen coursing through young bodies can send even the most even-keeled child on a roller coaster of emotions and mood swings. Parent need to hang on for the ride.

“Let her know that it’s OK to express emotions. There is a lot going on emotionally, physically, and it can become overwhelming,” PeriodWise.com’s Hutchinson says.

“She may be crying one minute and laughing the next one. Parents need to understand and not become frustrated. Expect it and let it happen.

Love her and hug her and find positive ways to help her deal with it.”

How you can help:

• Encourage her to eat healthy foods.

If certain foods cause more bloating or discomfort, change her diet.

• If chocolate makes her feel better, give her some (in moderation).

• Help her take time to exercise.

• Encourage her to write in a journal and express herself.

• Celebrate with a special themed gift, such as a gift box from Period Packs or specially-made underwear from DearKate.com, recently featured in Time magazine. The underwear provides extra protection for menstruating women and girls, and is available in tween sizes.

• Host a girls-only party.

• Celebrate with a special shopping trip or dinner.

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PART 1 OF A 5-PART SERIES

BIRTH ORDER BASICS:

Parenting A High-Flying Firstborn

BY ABBEY TIDERMAN

Did birth order dictate the direction of your life? Are the stereotypes spot-on in your family? Birth order’s reach may extend far beyond typical personality traits of the oldest, middle, youngest, and only children as well as multiples. Psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman’s book, The Birth Order Book: Why You Are The Way You Are, suggests a deeper significance in our everyday lives: “Birth order can give you some important clues about your personality; your relationship with friends, co-workers, and loved ones; the kind of job you have; and how you handle problem solving.” Over the next several issues we’ll explore birth order, child by child. First up, fittingly: firstborns.

In the early 1900s, as Sigmund Freud famously developed psychoanalysis and his theories on the role of the unconscious mind, fellow Austrian-born psychiatrist Alfred Adler was exploring significant social ideas of his own.

He emphasized the power of birth order on family dynamics, which he believed ultimately had the power to shape a person’s personality, self-esteem, and consequences later in life. He noted, however, “It is not, of course, the child’s number in the order of successive births which influences his character, but the situation into which he is born and the way in which he interprets it.”

It wasn’t the order of birth itself, but rather the interactions between parents, children, and siblings as a result of that order. Adler felt that if a family could consciously create a less-competitive environment, in which all voices mattered as much as the next, birth order could be less of a factor on an individual’s character and life decisions.

30 AUGUST2015

Despite being lesser-known compared to Freud, Adler’s work exploring the influence of birth order struck a chord worldwide. It has been fascinating people for over a century and has been ceaselessly dissected and debated, with “1,065 items published about birth order from 1976 to 1993” alone, according to research cited in “A Review of 200 Birth-Order Studies: Lifestyle Characteristics” by Daniel Eckstein.

Adler himself was a middle-born child, but much of the literature inspired by his birth order theories focuses on high-achieving firstborns.

Eckstein found that between 1960

the factors that set the stage for that success are myriad. When parents have their first baby, they naturally read everything they can get their hands on and cross items off a literal checklist in preparation for parenthood. They consciously determine the moral, social, health, and safety guidelines they will use to raise their little ones, and diligently hold off on everything from sweets to screen time.

From day one, firstborn children receive most of their parents’ attention and are enthusiastically supported in every move they make.

This gives them valuable confidence

“Don’t fall prey to their perfectionist tendencies.

Later on in life, perfectionism is slow suicide.”

— Dr. Kevin Leman

and 2010, 23 studies concluded that first-borns tended to have the highest academic success; 12 studies found firstborns to be high achievers; and nine noted firstborns as highly motivated and most likely to be a leader. Six studies said firstborns were influenced by authority and conformed to parental values.

Author and birth order expert Leman sides with much of the social science, including a recent study by Essex University, which reports that firstborns with at least four years’ age difference between them and their younger sibling excel academically. “Firstborns or onlies tend to be conscientious, well-organized, serious, goal-oriented, achieving, people pleasers, and believers in authority,” he notes.

It’s no wonder there’s a long list of famous firstborns that include the majority of U.S. presidents, NASA astronauts, and successful CEOs, but

needed throughout their lives and sets a high bar of expectation when it comes to achievement. While this tends to create mature, motivated leaders who respect authority, Leman warns it can also drive them to set unrealistic expectations.

“Oldest children are the ones that parents practice on. They’re the lab rats. But they do extremely well in life. They’re achievers, and thus, tend to be perfectionistic,” he says.

To test some of these ideas, Leman conducts a “Four-Corner Birth Order Exercise” in his family and parenting seminars. He asks attendees to get into a circle in one of four corners of the room — a firstborn corner, middle-born, only-born, and lastborn. Once gathered in their respective areas and conversing, he places a piece of paper face down on the floor in the middle of each circle.

Each piece of paper contains identical instructions, telling the groups to

immediately start listing the characteristics they seem to share with one another. Almost invariably, Leman says, it’s the firstborn and only-born groups that pick up the paper first and get to work, followed often by the middle-borns, however, less enthusiastically. He notes that the lastborns often don’t even notice the paper as they chat amongst themselves. After conducting the exercise hundreds of times, there have been only one or two instances in which the group to pick up the paper first was not the firstborn or onlies group. Leman also finds that when the groups report back, firstborns always tend to have a clear leader within the group who took charge of the assignment.

He emphasizes, however, that someone with firstborn traits isn’t necessarily the oldest in the family.

Birth order personalities are shaped by a multitude of variables including age gap between children, sex of the children, blended families, adoption, physical, mental or emotional differences, sibling deaths, parents’ birth order, parents’ relationship, and how critical parents tend to be.

A “functional firstborn,” Leman says, is a person who has been raised with the parental attention and focus that a typical firstborn would receive. If a child is born five or more years after his older sibling, he may very well have firstborn characteristics, because by the time he arrives, the older child is off to school, leaving more time for his parents to connect one-on-one.

Similarly, if a baby boy is born and has three older sisters, it’s likely he’ll receive a different parenting approach than his sisters by virtue of being a different sex, thus he may exhibit those overachieving firstborn traits as opposed to more laid-back lastborn ones.

Whether you’ve got a functional firstborn or firstborn in the ordinal sense, Leman advises, “Don’t fall prey to their perfectionist tendencies.” If your child is distraught about a grade or not succeeding at something she had her heart set on, he suggests acknowledging her feelings, but clearly communicating that it’s not a big issue to you and walk away. “Later on in life,” he notes, “perfectionism is slow suicide.”

“It's critical to be sensitive to each individual child's needs and to be warm and nurturing while setting firm limits,” adds Elizabeth Harvey, University of Massachusetts Amherst professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences.

“That said, if one is parenting an older child who is very achievementoriented and perfectionistic, it may be useful to focus on helping the child have realistic expectations of themselves and not be too hard on themselves.”

It’s not only parent-child interactions that matter when it comes to shaping a firstborn, though. Anthony

Centore, LMHC, CEO, and founder of ThriveWorks, a counseling and life coaching practice in Boston, notes that siblings make a significant impact, as well.

“When interacting with siblings, the oldest child is often the leader, the one ‘looking out’ for his or her siblings,” he says. “Historically, the eldest child would also help with raising and parenting the younger siblings. This sometimes goes unappreciated by the younger brothers and sisters, as you’ll often hear middle or youngest siblings describe their older brother or sister as ‘pushy’ or ‘bossy.’” Parents can help quell this by giving leadership roles

to younger siblings, lightening up on expectations of the firstborn, and tuning in to see how each is reacting to one another.

“Children are not one-size-fits-all and have varying personalities and dispositions. For example, one sibling might be naturally athletic and rambunctious, while another might be quiet and bookish,” he adds. “Kids also have different sensitivities. One might thrive in a chaotic environment, while another might become stressed out in environments with too much activity or noise. Or, one child might like roughhousing, while another is so physically sensitive he or she gets agitated by the tags on

undershirts. Parents need to remember that what works for connecting with [and parenting] one child, might not work for another.”

Leman also suggests parents consider their own birth order and how it affects their personality and interactions with others. He notes that parents tend to over-identify with and favor the child with whom they share birth order and advises: “Keep this tendency in mind to help you balance your actions and responses to all your children.”

Next month, Part 2: The Middle Child

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Not Your Mother’s

Crock-Pot

How slow-cooker technology and recipes have evolved to deliver healthy, diverse family meals.

BY KATHY SLOAN

Envision coming home from work, or from driving kids here, there, and everywhere, to a hot, ready-to-eat, home-cooked meal. Now imagine that you don’t have to hear the four dreaded words, “Mom! What’s for dinner?” when you walk through the door. This isn’t some fantasy — and it could be your reality with a little planning. Chances are you own a slow cooker, also known as a Crock-

Pot, and you probably use it occasionally for chili, pulled pork, or pot roast. But this ain’t your momma’s Crock-Pot! In addition to traditional stews and roasts, today’s slow cooker can handle a range of diverse ethnic cuisine, special diets (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and more), desserts, and side dishes, easily setting the stage for healthy, homecooked meals for your family.

entrees, pastas, soups, sandwiches, and more. A slow cooker is not just a glorified stew cooker, O’Dea notes, but rather an appliance that busy families, even college kids, can use to create healthy meals rather than rely on take-out for hectic days.

“The best part is that by using the slow cooker you don’t have to cook every night because slow cooking lends itself to leftovers,” she adds.

Stephanie O’Dea (stephanieodea. com) is a mom, blogger, and author of 365 Slow Cooker Suppers. She used her slow cooker exclusively (well, several, because you need more than one if you’re going to use it every day) to feed her family every day in 2008, hence the title of her 2013 book. The cookbook offers a range of recipes — many with glutenfree options — including meatless

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Slow Cooker History Irving Naxon invented the slow cooker nearly 80 years ago. The appliance was inspired by the traditional Jewish stew, cholent, which cooked all day on the Sabbath. Since work on the Sabbath is forbidden, the stew was set in the pot and put in the oven on Friday night to slow cook for 24 hours. Naxon sold his design in the early ’70s to Rival Manufacturing, which rebranded the appliance and marketed it to women who were entering the workforce and no longer had time to cook for their family every night. Sound familiar? The slow cooker began to decline in popularity after the invention of the microwave, but has always been a go-to appliance for people who don’t have time, or like, to cook.

However, slow cooker meals of the past were loaded with sodium and heavy sauces in an effort to keep the meat moist. Today, there are hundreds of healthy recipes that don’t require a pot full of heavy sauce, mainly because slow cooker technology has improved to the point in which you don’t need as much liquid to cook with. Christina Dymock (christinadymock.wordpress.com), author of The Healthy Family Slow Cooker Cookbook, created recipes for busy families that are not only healthy but also don’t require many ingredients or extensive preparation.

Recipes such as Sun-Dried Tomato Turkey Roast, Chicken Gyros, or Cajun Rice with Shrimp could easily become staples in a family’s meal rotation. Dymock notes you can use a slow cooker to make bread, side dishes like spaghetti squash, or decadent desserts such as cookie bars.

“Don’t be afraid of trying different things in your slow cooker,” she says.

Not Just A Winter Appliance Most people associate slow cookers with winter comfort food, however, it can be well used year-round.

Both O’Dea’s and Dymock’s books offer summer recipes, including fish and salads. Having a cookout? Use the slow cooker to make up to 60 hot dogs at once. Or use the grill for meats and your slow cooker for side dishes and desserts. One of the greatest aspects about a slow cooker is that they are portable and, O’Dea adds, “they are a great economical way to cook for a lot of people.” She also says the appliance can be used to make applesauce, crayons, play dough and much more.

Dymock agrees, noting a slow cooker can become your BCF (best cooking friend): “Get to know your slow cooker and it will be a good friend for life.”

Expert Tips • In order to make mealtime less stressful, Dymock suggests involving the kids in the cooking process, from planning to prep, as much as possible. Or, teach older children how to use the controls. This way if you can’t be home to turn the appliance off, they will be able to help.

• Coat your slow cooker with nonstick spray before cooking for easy clean up.

• Dymock encourages cooks to defrost and brown ground meat in a slow cooker. Take a pound of beef or turkey out of the freezer and put directly into your slow cooker; turn it on high for 4 hours. The meat will remain in the shape in which it was frozen, but Dymock says it will be completely defrosted and cooked, ready to use in a meal, for example, tacos.

you keep one or two meals’ worth of items in your pantry at all times, you will always have something you can prepare quickly, she notes.

Eat Together Child experts agree that kids whose families eat together are physically and mentally healthier. Yet Americans are busier than ever and it’s not always easy to have sit-down dinners every night. With the new school year closing in, most families will soon be incredibly busy with school, sports, homework, and other after-school activities. Yet O’Dea argues that we need to rethink the family meal. “Just because we can’t sit down together every day, eating the same hot meal that you prepared earlier in the day can be equally beneficial,” she says.

• When you return home after grocery shopping, combine all ingredients for slow cooker meals into freezer bags, O’Dea advises. Freeze the bags until you’re ready to use them. The night before you want to serve the meal, take a bag out of the freezer and place in the refrigerator.

Before you leave for work the next morning, dump the ingredients into your slow cooker and voila! Dinner will be ready when you get home. If

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Chicken and Beet Spinach Salad

Dymock says this is one of her favorite salads.

“Because of the way it’s cooked, I can reduce the Serves 6 recipe to one chicken breast and one beet and make it for lunch in my small slow cooker. That way I don’t have to share,” she writes.

Ingredients • 2 chicken breasts • 3 large beets • 1 (10-oz.) bag spinach • 1/2 red pepper, sliced thin • 1 cup golden tomatoes, cut in half • 2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled Dressing • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar • 4 tbsp. olive oil • 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning

End of Summer Harvest Soup Serves 6 If your kitchen is overflowing with bounty from your garden, O’Dea says this soup will put the vegetables to delicious use. Plus, you can freeze the leftovers, which reheat well.

Ingredients • 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable stock) • 1 cup prepared pasta sauce • 1 cup water • 1 medium yellow onion, diced • 4 zucchini, washed well and sliced in 1/4-inch rounds

Wrap the chicken and beets individually in aluminum foil and place in the slow cooker with the chicken on the bottom. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through.

Once the chicken and beets are cooked, divide the spinach, red pepper, tomatoes, and feta cheese between 6 plates. Slice the beets and spread them between the serving plates. Finally, use two forks to shred the chicken and divide it evenly, as well.

To make the dressing, simply whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Serve while chicken and beets are still warm.

Photo from The Healthy Family Slow Cooker Cookbook

Directions • 2 yellow summer squash, washed well and sliced in 1/4-inch rounds • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (depending on size) • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or 1/2 tablespoon freshly chopped rosemary, oregano, thyme) • 1/3 cup dry white Cannellini beans (this doesn’t sound like a lot, but they swell!)

• 1/2 cup dry pasta • Salt and pepper to taste • Parmesan and Romano cheeses for garnish

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Use a 6-quart slow cooker.

Wash squashes well and slice to rounds. Place into slow cooker with diced onion and tomato wedges. Rinse your beans in hot water and add to cooker. Add broth, pasta sauce, and water.

Stir in Italian seasoning.

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Pictured above Stephanie O’Dea

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ters to turn sliced cheese into stars and thickly cut luncheon meat into flowers.

Dishin’

Keep Tummies Safe

with the Dietitian

Going Back to School

BY CARRIE TAYLOR, RDN, LDN

Keeping your child well-nourished during the school day is imperative.

Academic performance, as well as behavior, will be impacted by the food your child eats throughout the day. As you get ready for the start of a new school year, prepare your pantry for the lunch packing you have ahead. Here are a few tips for offering a delicious, nutritious, and safe lunch box this school season.

Nutrition Know-How The nutrients offered in the foods you pack for your child will help dictate their level of concentration, energy, and hunger. Provide an array of nutrients, such as carbohydrates and vitamins, by following the recommended number of servings from each of the food groups found on USDA’s MyPlate. Noting portion sizes will also help ensure your child eats an array of foods versus filling up on only one or two.

Make MyPlate Your Guide Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov to learn your child’s specific nutrition needs food group by food group. For example, it is recommended that 2- to 3-year-olds consume 2 ounceequivalents of protein a day, while the recommended amount doubles to 4 ounce-equivalents for children ages 4 to 8.

Tip: Check out the Food Group

gallery on ChooseMyPlate.gov for visual examples of what counts as a serving.

One lunchbox detail that seems to get overlooked is food safety. This is unfortunate as children are at a greater risk for foodborne illness and the harmful symptoms associated with them.

Let the “keep cold foods cold” philosophy guide your packing. If your child’s food requires refrigeration, be sure to include enough ice packs to maintain a temperature of less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit in their insulated lunch bag until the food is enjoyed. If you do not have enough ice packs on hand, cups of frozen yogurt or boxed milks can assist.

Tip: All the planning and packing in the world won’t do any good to prevent foodborne illness without

Prevent Portion Distortion Families are used to disproportionally large serving sizes thanks to restaurant and fast food meals.

When packing snacks and lunch for your child, be mindful of the serving sizes recommended by MyPlate.

While the average restaurant pasta serving can run between 2 and 4 cups, the USDA considers ½ cup of pasta a single serving from the Grains Food Group. For your child’s lunch, simply pack ½ – to – 1 cup of pasta, including a ½-cup serving of vegetables, ½-cup serving of fruit, and a 1-cup serving of milk so their hunger is quenched and their nutrient needs are met.

Fun with Food Packing your child’s lunchbox with a balanced meal is one piece of the puzzle, getting them to eat it is another. The best way to entice young taste buds to enjoy the foods you provide is by making them part of the process. By having your children help shop for and prepare lunch and snacks, they will be more inclined to eat what you pack. Additionally, varying textures, colors and shapes of the foods offered will help keep taste buds enticed. Turn lunch into a craft adventure by using cookie cut-

Carrie Taylor is the lead registered dietitian nutritionist for the Living Well Eating Smart program at Big Y Foods.

Have a nutrition question? E-mail livingwell@bigy.com or write Living Well at 2145 Roosevelt Ave, PO Box 7840, Springfield, MA 01102.

Do you have a question on nutrition or healthy eating or want more information or ideas on a related topic?

Email editor@baystateparent.com and your suggestion could be featured in an upcoming edition of Dishin’ With the Dietitian.

Veggie Barley Salad with Orange-Honey Vinaigrette Ingredients • 1 cup pearl barley • 1 medium tomato, chopped • 2 medium carrots, shredded • 1 medium red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped • 2 cups chopped fresh spinach • 3 tablespoons orange juice • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or any other mild vinegar) • 1 teaspoon honey • Salt and freshly ground black pepper Instructions 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

2. Add barley and cook, uncovered, until tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

3. Add tomato, carrots, bell pepper, and spinach and stir to combine.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper.

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proper handwashing. Practice proper handwashing techniques with your child while reinforcing how important clean hands are before and after eating.

5. Pour vinaigrette over barley salad and mix thoroughly.

6. Refrigerate overnight for best results and enjoy!

Recipe from Mac Wirth from Idaho and featured in the 2013 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge Cookbook from Epicurious.

Recipes featured were those voted best dishes from the second annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge & Kids’ “State Dinner” at the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama.

Anxious? Eat A Pickle

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To Remove

Artificial Colors, Flavors From Cereals General Mills has announced plans to remove artificial colors and flavors from its cereals, aiming to have more than 90% of its line free of artificial sources by the end of 2016.

The company says its cereals will be using “more recognizable, familiar ingredients to create its colors and flavors,” citing a Nielsen poll in which 49% of households said they are making an effort to avoid flavors and colors from artificial sources.

The company says that currently more than 60% of its cereal line avoids the latter.

Trix and Reese’s Puffs will be among the first of the remaining brands to make the switch. Trix will use ingredients like fruit and vegetable juices and spice extracts such as turmeric and annatto to achieve its well-known coloring. Reese’s Puffs will continue to use peanut butter and cocoa and incorporate natural vanilla flavor.

Consumers can expect to see the updated Trix and Reese’s Puffs cereals on store shelves this winter.

A Simple DIY

BY LESLIE REICHERT

Bites

Researchers at William & Mary report that college students who ate fermented foods, like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi, exhibited fewer social anxiety symptoms. The reason: probiotics.

“It is likely that the probiotics in the fermented foods are favorably changing the environment in the gut, and changes in the gut in turn influence social anxiety,” researcher Jordan DeVylde told ScienceDaily.com. “I think that it is absolutely fascinating that the microorganisms in your gut can influence your mind.”

The study found another factor that lessened social anxiety: more exercise.

A New Look At Packing Lunch Parents and kids can start the fall with a fresh look at lunch via Bento sets from Bentology. Inspired by colorful, creative Japanese Bento lunches, the BPA-free sets feature individual containers and lids, providing separate containers for sandwiches, salads, snacks, sauces, utensils, and more. Bentology.net offers a menus/recipes section ripe with ideas for fun lunches, as well as a free app, Lunch Ideas, at the iTunes App store, which helps you assemble a personal shopping list. Bento sets start at $19.99. bentology.net.

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Tea

DavidsTea takes the idea of iced tea to a whole new level with its limited edition Old Timey Treats Collection. The loose-leaf teas are inspired by classic malt shop treats, including Banana Split (a rich and creamy rooibos with chocolate, banana and sweet meringue); Black Cherry (a fruity black tea inspired by a classic cherry soda); orange-cherry Shirley Temple (an homage to the super retro mocktail); Cotton Candy (sweet and nostalgic); and Mango Fruit Punch (with pineapple, mango and tangerine). The teas start at $7.50 or can all be purchased in a $25 collection. David’s is also offering its Lemonade Stand kit with its Electric Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, and Sweet Lime teas, rock sugar sticks, and pitcher, complete with mesh infuser ($40). All are available in DavidsTea stores or davidstea.com.

Green Scrub for Your Home Greening your cleaning is one of the easiest ways to create a healthier home for your family and your pets. But when I mention switching to greener cleaners, I get lots of questions and glazed-over looks.

Most people would love to take the toxins out of their homes, but don’t know where to start. Here’s a DIY recipe that will take the place of the store-bought powdered cleanser you use in your home. Did you know that they contain carcinogens and airborne allergens in the ingredients?

My DIY Green Cleaning Scrub takes only a few minutes to mix up and you will find it works better than any other product you can buy. The best part about making your own green scrub is that you know exactly what’s in it.

Green Cleaning Scrub This simple scrub will clean the inside of your sinks and also can be used inside your toilet. The best part about this scrub is that it doesn’t leave a powdery film when you are done. Your sinks will sparkle!

sponge to clean sinks and bathtubs. Shake this mixture into your toilet and give it a scrub with your toilet brush. You will be amazed how well it cleans the toilet.

• 1 cup baking soda • 1 cup table salt • ½ cup Borax or oxygen bleach • 7 to 9 drops of your favorite essential oil for scent Mix the first three ingredients, then add your essential oil drops.

Continue to mix thoroughly and place in a simple shaker container (I use a parmesan cheese container). Use the powder with a wet

BAYSTATEPARENT 37

FINALLY FOREVER

Creative Ways To Finance An Adoption

BY MELISSA SHAW

The cost of private adoption can be steep, on average anywhere from $20,000 and up. The financial obstacle alone can be enough to derail a couple’s plans to expand their family through adoption, yet author and mother Julie Gumm says there are a multitude of ways people can adopt without going into debt.

“It is a stumbling block,” says Gumm, author of the new book, You Can Adopt Without Debt. “Talking to people and hearing them say, ‘I’ve kinda thought about adoption but it’s so expensive, I never could afford it,’ I realized there was a real need to address that specific issue.

I thought since we had done it debtfree, I saw a need. We could use our story and the stories of other families in the book and encourage people to not let that be a stumbling block to adoption if that’s something they really, really want to do.”

Her book is a guide not only to the general process of private adoption (international and domestic) and ballpark associated fees and costs, but also to myriad ways families can fundraise and earn money to cover that expense. Gumm shares her family’s fundraising experience, as well as those of 30 other families.

The mother of four (two biological children and two adopted from Ethiopia nearly seven years ago), Gumm says fundraising to bankroll an adoption is a “growing phenomenon.”

“In the last five years it has really exploded,” she says. “A lot of that has to do with social media. I got on Facebook and Twitter during our adoption process but didn’t even think of using those as a fundraising tool. I think as social media has exploded that’s helped people reach out with their message. There’s been a really cool adoption community 38 AUGUST2015

formed online, families supporting other adoptive families and helping spread the word about families doing fundraisers. Even in the last three to four years, it has grown exponentially.”

Some of the most popular fundraising methods Gumm discovered include: Garage sales. “It’s a great way to involve other people in your story without asking them for money,” Gumm says. “Families have raised $1,000 to $5,000. If your adoption process stretches out you can do a couple garage sales during that time.”

Both Hands Foundation. The nonprofit (bothhands.org) partners adoptive families with widows who need work done around their house, such as landscaping cleanups, small repairs, or even a coat of paint. A family gathers a “work crew” — friends, family, coworkers, etc. — who send out letters asking people to sponsor them on the project.

Contributors get to write off their donation, a widow gets needed work done around her home, and the prospective adoptive family receives the donated money.

“It’s a great idea, families regularly might raise $10,000,” Gumm says. “If I had known about it when I was adopting, I would have done one. You’re raising funds for your adoption but it’s not about you, it’s

about helping somebody else, too.

Everybody I’ve talked to who has done one said they had an incredible experience outside of raising the money.”

Karaoke Night. In this fun event, adults pay a fee in order to sign someone else up to sing a song. The person chosen can then pay to have someone join him in song, pay to get out of the song, or pay double and force the person who signed them up to sing. Attendees can also pay a blanket fee to make themselves off-limits for the night. Gumm says one couple raised $1,300 using this model.

Asking directly. Couples can take the most direct approach, asking their family, friends, and coworkers for money directly. “It takes humility,” Gumm says, noting families can write a simple letter laying out the expenses they’re facing and why each fee or cost exists. “It’s a learning experience and a growing experience to make yourself vulnerable and admit you need help with something. I think it can be a real growth thing, too. I constantly see people totally blown away by who gives.”

On the flip side, she says it’s imperative to go into this route “with no expectations.”

“Just because your aunt is wealthy doesn’t mean she’s going to give to your adoption and you can’t let that

affect personal relationships,” Gumm advises. “You put the call out there and whoever gives is whoever gives; it’s all good.”

The Gumm family did their fundraising nearly eight years ago, raising their money via a garage sale, selling items on eBay, and Julie taking freelance jobs doing graphic design.

“If I was approaching it today, I would feel way better equipped and way less stressed out,” she notes.

“I was super nervous about how we were going to pay for our adoption and was really committed to not doing it with debt. I would definitely do a karaoke night, garage sale, and Both Hands Foundation.”

For all fundraisers, she encourages couples to identify their different fundraising groups — one event may not cover everyone.

“The fundraiser that might be really great for your work friends might not work for your church friends or your neighborhood friends,” she says. “There are endless possibilities and people can have a lot of fun. It’s not going to be easy to come up with $30,000, but it’s really cool to see it happen and see your friends come behind you and support you in that way.”

For more information and ideas for fundraising for adoption and to win a copy of You Can Adopt Without Debt, visit baystateparent.com/ adoptionfundraising

August’s Child: Brianna Fifteen-year-old Brianna is a Caucasian girl grieving the loss of her previously “normal” functional life and the lack of interactions with family. Due to complications from an illness, she has full cognitive functioning but has been left non-verbal and non-ambulatory. Brianna can communicate with limited movement in her hand as well as by laughing and crying. She is fully aware of what is going on around her in the longterm care facility in which she resides.

Brianna is a sweet young lady who endears herself to

others. She likes to listen to music and watch movies and loves interaction with others. Brianna needs someone who can regularly visit her and advocate for her. Her social worker would consider someone who would like to volunteer to be a Visiting Resource for Brianna, who can commit to visiting with her, perhaps reading to her. She is not yet legally free for adoption, but a family interested in adopting Brianna would need to be able to handle her medical needs and work with doctors, nursing services, etc. once she was deemed able to reside in a home situation. The family would need to be able to integrate handicap accessibility if she were to transition to a home setting.

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For more information about Brianna or the possibility of becoming a Visiting Resource for her, please contact DCF Adoption Supervisor Eileen Griffin at (978) 353-3629.

Confidence Respect Self Esteem Fun

Circle of Friends Wednesday, Aug. 5 — Northern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Jordan’s Furniture Reading: IMAX Conference Room - 50 Walker’s Brook Dr., Reading.

6 p.m. RSVP: 978-557-2734.

Saturday, Aug. 8 — Foster Care Information Session. The Home For Little Wanderers, 50 Redfield St., Dorchester. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

To register visit thehome.org/fostercare or call 508-364-8045.

Monday, Aug. 17 — Southern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Mass. Department of Children and Families, Canton Police Station, 1492 Washington Street, Canton. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP to 508-894-3830.

Monday, Aug. 17 — 7th Annual Charitable Golf Invitational to benefit MARE. Poquoy Brook Golf Club, Lakeville. Registration 8:30 a.m., shotgun start 9:30 a.m. $150 per golfer. For more information, 617-542-3678 x113 or ruthc@mareinc.org.

Wednesday, Aug. 19 — Boston Region Adoption Info Meeting, DCF Boston, 451 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

617-989-9209.

Thursday, Aug. 20 — Southern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Morton Hospital, 88 Washington Street, Taunton, Margaret Stone Conference Room, first floor. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP: 508-894-3830.

Thursday, Aug. 20 — We are Family: A PostAdoption Support Group. First Connections, on the Emerson Hospital Campus, Route 2, Concord.

A monthly support and education group for parents who are caring for foster children, have adopted a child at age 3 or older, or whose adopted child is now over age 5. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. For more information contact facilitator Mary Rowlinson at 978-287-0221 x218.

Ongoing — Group for Adoptive Parents. Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton. For parents of children in elementary or middle school, this monthly group focuses on understanding the impact of loss and trauma; learning to manage difficult and challenging behaviors; strengthening the family bond while preserving identity; and more.

For more information, contact 617-965-9369 or info@adoptionassociates.org.

Ongoing — Group for Adopted Teens.

Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton.

For adopted children ages 14-19, this group focuses on identity development, self-esteem improvement, confidence building and communication skills.

Participants will use conversation to reflect upon the experience of adoption and belonging. For more information, contact 617-965-9369 or info@adoptionassociates.org.

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Ongoing — Group for Adoptive Parents of Teens.

Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton. This monthly group focuses on understanding the impact of loss and trauma on children ages 14-19; learning to manage difficult and challenging behaviors; strengthening the family bond while preserving identity; and more. For more information, contact 617-965-9369 or info@adoptionassociates.org.

Ongoing — The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers an afterhours telephone hotline that provides emergency assistance to foster kinship and pre-adoptive families when the DCF offices are closed. The helpline is available 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and holidays. The number is (800) 486-3730.

If your group or organization is holding an adoption information or support group and would like to have information posted for readers of baystateparent, please email editor@baystateparent.com.

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Tea with Children’s Author Natasha Lowe How her characters and real-life stories inspire kids to believe in themselves

BY JESSICA DAY

T

here’s a bit of magic in everything children’s author Natasha Lowe cooks up — from teatime cake to her second novel for middlegrade readers. It’s probably because she really does believe that one should “kibet fallow da” in life, which is to say: Follow your passion, even if the route isn’t necessarily smooth or fast.

“I always loved to write stories,” she says as we settle in at a table in front of a large picture window in her cheerful kitchen. Outside it’s bright and cold; birds hop from branch to branch and take advantage of the feeders hanging from a stout tree. All that can be seen of the stone goose that inspired Lowe’s first book, The Power of Poppy Pendle, is a long neck and head — the rest is encased in snow. (Editor’s note: This interview took place earlier this year) She pours me “proper English tea” — milk in first — and offers a lemon square or a slice of vanilla sponge cake with homemade raspberry jam and whipped cream… Yes, please! And we chat — for much longer than I had anticipated because, honestly, it’s delightful.

It’s mainly thanks to my 12-year-old daughter, Piper, that I find myself in Lowe’s eminently comfortable home, sipping tea and eating what might be the most delicious cake I’ve ever tast-

40 AUGUST2015

ed. After devouring The Power of Poppy Pendle, the tale of a young witch who would rather bake than perfect her spells, Piper eagerly awaited Lowe’s second book, The Courage of Cat Campbell, which was released by Simon & Schuster in January. She devoured Cat, too, and thanks to Lowe’s original collections of recipes in the back of each book, Piper has also been baking up a storm lately. I can’t say I disapprove.

‘You’ll Never Be A Writer’ A long-time transplant from the United Kingdom, Lowe grew up in London. She found inspiration for stories during long car trips with her family, when her parents told tales to pass the miles, and in towns such as Barnoldswick, the Yorkshire village where her grandmother lived. In fact, Potts Bottom, the setting for both Poppy and Cat, is based on Barnoldswick.

I immediately feel a kinship when Lowe confesses she was, and still is, a terrible speller; and even though she “always” loved to write stories, there was a time, very early on, when she thought, “Gosh, maybe I can’t do this…” That was back in the second grade, when she wrote her version of the old standby: What I Did on My Summer Vacation.

“I’d written a whole page,” she recalls, “and the headmistress read it out, and it wasn’t what I’d written at all. ‘We went on holiday to Wales and I stubbed my toe.’ I remember thinking, ‘I didn’t write that!’ She couldn’t read a word of my story because the spelling was so terrible, and at the end she looked at me and said, ‘You know, you’ll never be a writer.’”

Fast-forward a decade, and Lowe’s first story was published in the British equivalent of Seventeen magazine — she was thrilled. “I didn’t know the first thing about getting published!” she adds. “I didn’t know the first thing about revising; I just sent it off, and they accepted it, and they paid me

quite a bit of money, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh! This is what I’m going to do… This is easy! I’m going to be a writer. Then the next thing I published was Poppy…many, many years later,” she says with a laugh.

What happened between that first published story and Poppy was something we can all relate to: life.

A stint in college to study journalism didn’t work out. “I couldn’t stick to the facts,” she says. “I would be sent out to report stories, and I would get terrible grades because I would invent things that hadn’t happened; I did it because I thought the stories were always very boring.” So at the end of her first year, Lowe secured a

student visa and headed to the United States to work for the summer.

That was when she met her future husband.

“I was working in a flower shop, and he came in,” she explains. “It was one of those things you hope your children never do…I called my parents, and I said, ‘I’ve met someone, and he’s 10 years older than me, and I don’t think I’m coming back to college.’” And to her surprise, Lowe’s parents were “great.”

“Instead of freaking out they said, ‘Right. Well, we’ll be right over for your 21st birthday,’ which they did, and they gave Jon the seal of approval, and I stayed.”

Twenty-six years, four children (now ages 11 to 22), and many adventures later, Lowe says she clearly made the right decision, but admits that if she had been a little older, she might’ve questioned it all a bit more before leaping in.

What she did question was living in rural Deerfield — surrounded by fields, farms, and fertilizer. Jon, who attended Deerfield Academy, was so taken with the historic town that he managed to buy a house on “The Street” and hoped to live in it. Lowe said no, she preferred city life, but she suggested setting the house up as a bed and breakfast instead.

“We found somebody to run it, and we had great fun going around to flea markets and furnishing it, and right before we opened, the couple that was going to run it for us had a fight, broke up, and left,” she says. “We had bookings and no one to run it. So I came out here — I think I was 22 at the time — and I got a puppy, and I was here for a year, and I didn’t really know anybody. I would walk the meadows, literally watch the corn grow, and I realized I liked living in the country! I loved going down to the farm and getting tomatoes, and having a close community, and the whole bit.”

When her husband asked whether it was a matter of not being able to find anybody to run The Tea House or if she really liked living in Deerfield, the answer was clear.

“We were a bed and breakfast

through two children. But then, with a toddler and a nursing baby, I couldn’t really sell the romantic getaway anymore,” she says with a chuckle, “but I was always writing.” She just didn’t tell anybody.

“This is a really interesting bit,” Lowe adds, and the interviewer in me leans in, while the pastry-loving me simultaneously wonders if it would be impolite to take a lemon square after polishing off my sponge cake…

“When I was 18, my dad took me to a palm reader. Not a fair ground palm reader with a turban and a crystal ball — this man had studied palmistry — his name was Bashir and he had an office in London. He wore a suit, and he took it very seriously. My dad had gone to see him when he was 18. This was right around the time I’d just had my story published, so I looked at him and he looked at my palm, and he said, ‘You’ll be a writer.’

And I thought, ‘Well, I already knew that.’ And I said, as all 18-year-olds say, ‘Will I be famous?’ And he said, ‘You will be well-known in your field.’

And I walked out of there thinking, ’Course I will. I’ve had one story published already!’

Coming Out Of The Writer’s Closet “That was always in the back of my mind: thinking, It’ll happen, it’ll happen,” Lowe notes. “It was about the time my daughter started nursery school that I thought, ‘If it’s going to happen, I have to make it happen.’ So I got brave…I talk about it as sort of coming out of the writerly closet.”

Which meant a lot of things — like growing a thick skin when it came to sending writing out into the world.

“I’d get really anxious and then it would come back, and the rejection piece is hard for somebody who isn’t the most self-confident person in the world,” Lowe explains. But she kept at it, and one day sent a sample of her writing along with a simple cover letter (“I still had no idea what a good query letter was all about!”) to literary agent Ann Tobias, who promptly requested to see more of her work.

“I went down to New York and we had tea,” Lowe says with a smile. “I did bring her cookies…I think I might’ve used them as a subtle bribe!”

Sweet bribes or no, Tobias, who learned her craft from the legendary Ursula Nordstrom of Harper & Row, was impressed by what Lowe had to offer, and was eager to work as her agent. And then the market crashed.

“Publishing houses were cutting back to bare bones,” Lowe recalls.

“They just weren’t taking any new work, so we sat tight for a year and a half…” Except that for the author and her agent, “sitting tight” actually meant sitting in front of the computer — revising — and that was OK. “The part I love the most [about writing] is after I’ve got the story down; after I sit and write like a crazy person, and there’s pizza for dinner because I haven’t gone shopping, and there are no clean clothes because I haven’t done the laundry… the part that I love the most is when I have the story down, and then I go back into it, and really find my story and get to know my characters. I think Poppy went through 14 or 15 rounds of heavy revision, and the same with Cat.” Even so, the third time was the charm. The first publisher Poppy was submitted to requested revisions that didn’t make sense to Tobias or Lowe; she did work on several revisions for another interested publisher, but in the end, that publisher passed — a decision Lowe says was “heart-breaking.” When Poppy was sent off to the Paula Wiseman imprint at Simon & Schuster on a Wednesday morning in 2011, Natasha thought to herself, Now I’ve got months to not worry.

When Tobias called the very next day, Lowe’s first thought was, “That’s it — she’s by hadland... enough of me!” Instead, Tobias asked, “Are you sitting down?” and she proceeded to read an email from Paula Wiseman that went something like this: “I peeked at Poppy when I got to work, and I couldn’t stop reading… I read it at meetings and at lunch and at my son’s lacrosse practice… I fell in love with byPoppy, air... and I want to publish it.”

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­Poppy Lives On Book signings, readings, and events such as the New England Mobile Book Fair followed, but Lowe most appreciated letters and emails from readers and their families. Many of them said: We would really love another book!

“Poppy was a stand-alone,” Lowe notes. “I had no intention of writing another story about her, and I told everybody that…” but when Tobias added her voice to the chorus, Lowe started think about what might work.

Ideas were considered and rejected,

and in the end, it was one of Lowe’s sons who sparked her imagination: “I was in the kitchen, baking and bemoaning the fact I didn’t know what to write about, and he said — I think he was tired of hearing about it — he said, ‘Why don’t you write about Poppy’s daughter, who also gets the gift of magic?’ It was one of those moments when I thought, Oh! That’s a great idea! There’s a story there…

I had the same feeling when I wrote Poppy, and I wrote the first draft of Cat in about eight weeks. It was quick — it was very rough — but I knew it was a great idea.”

Unlike the premise in Poppy, it’s not apparent to anyone that Cat Camp-

bell is a witch until she accidentally discovers a stack of books in her grandparents’ attic and tries a spell in Practical Magic — and it works!

Cat is a “Late Bloomer” but a decidedly enthusiastic one…despite her mother’s objections.

“It’s this sense of kids not being heard, really, in both books,” Lowe explains. “I think kids can identify with that… It’s hard sometimes to stand back and really listen to what your kids are saying, and let them take the reins, and I think that’s what kids see in Poppy and Cat and think, ‘I get it, Poppy! I get it, Cat!’ In Cat, Poppy says she’s going to be the best parent and support her in

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whatever she want to do, and then Cat chooses the one thing she wants nothing to do with. So how does that work? How does she deal with that?”

Readers have asked Lowe if there is a message in her books; if there is, she says, it’s about believing in yourself and doing what is right for you. For parents, the message might be to listen to your children because they often have good, important things to say.

“What I love about Cat is that she’s not good at magic,” she says. “I also think a lot of kids can identify with that — loving something but not being good at it — really having to work at it, and work at it not to be the best, but just to be able to do what you love and to be OK with that. If I have a message, it’s to try, and if it’s something you love, don’t give up.”

What Lowe is not giving up on anytime soon is writing, which is undoubtedly a good thing, since her books have garnered comparisons to JK Rowling and Roald Dahl.

“I’m humbled and happy…in awe, really,” she says. “It was huge for me when Poppy was compared to Matilda! And JK Rowling — well, that’s every children’s author’s dream! My books are so different from hers; I’m not trying to do what she did…but, still…”

She adds that Cat is definitely not the sequel to Poppy — she calls it a companion book. “We all know how frustrating it is if you pick up a book, and you know it’s a sequel, and you feel as if you’ve missed bits if you haven’t read the first one. So I came at it from the point of view of somebody who has absolutely no knowledge of Poppy whatsoever.”

So definitely not a sequel, and yet… much like my longing for just one more slice of cake as my conversation with Lowe winds down, it was last Easter when her nephew looked across the table at his aunt and said, “I think you should write GreatGranny Mabel’s story.” Great-greatgrandmother Mabel — the originator of the magic gene that both Poppy and Cat inherited.

“And right then I had that fizzy feeling,” she says. “I thought, How fun would that be? Potts Bottom in the Victorian era, and looking at what the world was like for women then; they weren’t allowed to study science, and yet here’s this witch who goes on to invent incredible things. What do they do? What do they study? They probably rode their broomsticks sidesaddle… I thought, I love this! So that’s what I’m doing at the moment. I’ve got the first draft, and now I’m working on revisions.”

Later, at home and without any sponge cake, I’m flipping through my daughter’s copy of The Courage of Cat Campbell, and I notice Lowe’s inscription: “For Piper: Magic Happens.” If it’s up to Natasha Lowe, it certainly will.

NOW ENROLLING • www.riseandshine.com

Rise & Shine Academy

Infantss, & Toddleor l Age Preschlodren Chi

RSA is a program of Criterion Child Enrichment, Inc. • www.criterionchild.com Rise & Shine is Licensed by the State of Massachusetts. All teachers are certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

RSA_1/4 Baystate 9.25x2.53 1month Run AUGUST final.indd 1

• 6:30 AM - 6:00 PM • Hot Lunch Program • Indoor/Outdoor Play Area • Preschool Literacy Enrichment Program Rise and Shine Academy 375 Fortune Boulevard Milford, MA 01757 (508) 478-5288 Rise and Shine Academy 30 Old Lyman Road South Hadley, MA 01075 (413) 532-2824 7/17/15 8:50 AM

BAYSTATEPARENT 43

RY’S SCH A M

LS OO

"Non Scholae Sed Vitae Not Only for School but for Life"

SAIN T

Saint Mary’s Schools PreK-12

19 15 - 2015 Celebrating 100 Years of Catholic Education

• Quality catholic education at affordable prices • 12:1 student to teacher ratio • Great location with easy access to major highways • Tools of the Mind Program for Pre K and K • Pre K rates at $25.00 per day for 3, 4 or 5 days a week or $30.00 for 1 or 2 days a week • Before and After School Program starts at 6:30 am and closes at 5:45 pm • 100 percent of graduates are accepted to college • Pre K through grade 12 in one convenient location • Modern technology throughout the school • Welcoming students of all faiths

Call us to schedule a private tour 50 Richland Street, Worcester, MA 01610 • 508-753-1170 • www.stmarysworcester.org 44 AUGUST2015

Back to School CAPTURED

Halo, 5, of Leominster has her future all planned out.

Hudson’s Wyatt and Owen, both 3, are pumped for school to start.

Three-year-olds Adrian and Zachary of Northbridge are picture-perfect on the first day of school.

Tristan, 4, of Townsend gives the first day of school two thumbs up.

It’s all smiles on the school bus step for Courtney, 5, of Marlborough.

Kayla, 9, and Cody, 11, of Leicester are all smiles on Day 1.

Ava, 6, of Worcester is backpacked and ready.

Five-year-olds Caleb and Sofia of Northbridge look ready to learn.

BAYSTATEPARENT 45

Nashoba Montessori School 725 Main St., Lancaster.

Established in 2000

Where your child will excel in an advanced learning environment which promotes respect, independence and individual achievement.

Currently Accepting Applications Preschool, Kindergarten & First Grade Prep.

Observations by Appointment Visit us at nashobamontessori.com, or on Facebook

978-365-6669 Nashoba Montessori School is a non-profit corporation, and does not discriminate against race, religion, political beliefs, cultural heritage, marital status, sexual orientation, color, ethnic origin or disability.

46 AUGUST2015

Keeping It Cool After A Long Day At School Photography by Karen Moriarty Photography kemphoto.com

Clothing Styled by Little V Designs littlevdesigns.com Hair and Makeup Provided by Rob Roy Hair Salons robroyhairsalons.com BAYSTATEPARENT 47

Back

the Fu

at Grass H

“Back to school� was quite different when the Grass Hill School first opened in West Millbury. Class was in session at the two-story schoolhouse from 1861 until 1967 and featured grades 1-3 in the first-floor classroom (pictured above and to the right) and grades 4-6 in the upstairs classroom. Lovingly restored by the Millbury Historical Society (millburyhistory.org), the building retains many of its original features and equipment, from desks, benches, and blackboards to the school bell.

48 AUGUST2015

k to

uture

Hill School Millbury Elizabeth, 14, Holden

Persnickety red sweater (persnicketyclothing.com), sizes 4-adult; Jak & Peppar (jakandpeppar.com) tank tunic, sizes 4-14; basic black leggings, all sizes; Joyfolie (joyfolie.com) Wedge Boot, available in women’s sizes 6-10

Jessenia, 16, Worcester Creamie (creamie.eu) Hi Low Dress, sizes 6-14; Persnickety sweater (persnicketyclothing.com), sizes 4-adult; Joyfolie (joyfolie.com) Booties, sizes youth-adult

Laighla, 11, Sharon

Brennan, 12, Weymouth Hooded zip-up sweatshirt, pocket tee, and denim jeans

by Wes and Willy (wesandwilly.com), sizes 4-16; Shoes: Nike, men sizes 7-13, available at Nordstrom

Sweater by Persnickety Fall Collection (persnicketyclothing.com), sizes 4-adult; Tank by Jak & Pappar (jakandpeppar.com), sizes 4-14; Jeans provided by elements @ the circle (elementsatthecircle.com), Westborough, sizes starting at size 0; Joyfolie (joyfolie.com), “Frankie” boots, youth and women’s sizes BAYSTATEPARENT 49

Sweet Treats for After School

Ice cream never goes out of style, it continues to evolve, just like these fun, fresh, and age-appropriate fashions for today’s tweens and teens. It just goes to show: You can have your dessert and look cool eating it, too.

50 AUGUST2015

Jayda, 12, Marion

Isobella & Chloe (isobellaandchloe.com) jumper, sizes 4-14; Creamie (creamie.eu) Ruffle Bottom Jean Jacket, sizes 6-14.

Shoes: Keds, youth to women’s sizes, available at Nordstrom

Dress: Fiveloaves Twofish (fiveloavestwofishclothing.com), sizes 10-14; Creamie (creamie.eu) Black Sweater with Lace Back, sizes 6-14; Joyfolie (joyfolie.com) Valora shoe, womens’s sizes.

Kayla, 11, Leicester

Photographed on location at

Christopher’s Ice Cream

22 West St., Millbury

Matthew, 15, Sutton Bow Tie: Urban Sunday (urbansunday.com); Clothing by johnnie-O (johnnie-o.com), youth to adult sizes; Shoes: Polo, available at Nordstrom

Dillon, 14, Grafton Clothing by johnnie-O (johnnie-o.com), youth to adult sizes; Shoes: Sperry, available at Nordstrom

BAYSTATEPARENT 51

BACK TO SCHOOL

Behind The Scenes

BY GEORGIA MORIARTY

JENNIFER AGBAY balletartsworcester.com

36 Harlow Street, Worcester, MA

CLASS REGISTRAT I O N In person registration – Aug 25–27 or online at balletartsworcester.com

C A L L 5 0 8 . 7 9 1 . 3 2 33 Ballet Arts Worcester offers comprehensive classical ballet training.

We follow a graded syllabus to develop physical alignment and technique, strength and flexibility, musicality, and performance. Class offerings include:

Classical ballet for ages 3 to 18 Modern Dance Teen Ballet Open Pointe Classes Variations Class

OPEN AUDITION S AT U R D AY, S E P T E M B E R 12TH CALL 508.791.3233 For your audition reservation

52 AUGUST2015

FA L L EGIN SES B H CLAS T 8 SEPT ER RACK NUTC MBER E NOV 9 27-2

Meet Mo Willems Sunday, August 30 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Free with Museum Admission Join us for a fun day with artist and writer Mo Willems! Meet Mo and get books signed. See new films from Weston Woods, make art inspired by his work, and get your picture taken with Elephant and Piggie!

Scheduled films followed by a Mo Willems Q & A are sold out, but the films will be repeated throughout the day. See website for a detailed schedule.

Misty Enright Photography

125 West Bay Road, Amherst Massachusetts 01002

413.658.1100

www.carlemuseum.org

5K Road Race & Family Festival Arts & Crafts and Vendor Fair

BridgeFest 2015

Helping People with Mental Health Challenges Live Longer, Healthier Lives.

Greg Byrne from 96.1 WSRS and the WSRS Street Team

Saturday, September 19, 2015 10am to 2pm Elm Park, Worcester

KIDSFEST at BridgeFest

Magician 10:15am & 11:15am Bouncy House • Clown Balloon Animals • Hair Braiding Face Painting • Games & Activities

FREE!

RAFFLE

*

Choose which item you would like to win.

$1,000 Cash

Beats Wireless Headphones

2 Round Trip Airline Tickets

$5 per ticket, $20 for a book of 5

New Location Elm Park!

Entertainment: REWIND

New England Patriots Tickets (2)

Great Wolf Lodge Overnight & Waterpark for 4

FOR MORE INFO OR TO REGISTER: Call 508-755-0333 or visit www.thebridgecm.org *Proceeds benefit the children and adults served by The Bridge of Central Massachusetts. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes. Drawing is Saturday, September 20 at BridgeFest 2014.

BAYSTATEPARENT 53

BACK TO SCHOOL

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Happy, Healthy Kids Doing What They Love!

Preschool Programs Beginning at 18 mo.

Combo Classes Ages 5 through teen

Voted The Landmark Favorite for the past 2 years!

Intensive Programs Ages 7 through teen Adult Classes Curriculum Jazz,Tap, Ballet, Pointe, Hip Hop, Parent & Tot, Terrific Two’s, Acro/Tumbling, Contemporary & Improv

Mike Nyman Photography

76 Central St., W. Boylston | 508-835-2678 | DianeKelleyDance.com | dianekelleydancestudio@gmail.com

Cornerstone Academy Educating all learners in grades K-6

Intellectually

An elementary preparatory school that celebrates the individual.

Open House November 15 • 1-3 p.m.

Send your children to Cornerstone where they are rooted in learning and will prosper intellectually, emotionally and physically.

Physically Emotionally

New Lower Tuition For Kindergarten!

• Offering Transitional Kindergarten and full day Kindergarten through Grade 6 curriculum.

• Small classes, individual attention.

• Solid academic foundation complemented by art, Spanish, music and physical fitness.

• Highly qualified faculty trained to adapt curriculum to your child’s ability.

• Intellectually enriching environment.

• State of the art technology utilized in all classrooms.

Limited Openings • Please visit our website for more info

Cornerstone

5 Oak Avenue • Northboro, MA 01532 • 508-351-9976 • www.cornerstoneacademy.org 54 AUGUST2015

BACK TO SCHOOL

How Does Your School District Stack Up? Using the latest data available from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, see how your district fares compared

to others across key categories, from average class size and SAT performance to average teacher salary and staff retention rates.

Avg. Class Students Per Computer Size 2010-2011 2013-2014

Teacher Evaluation 2013-2014

School

Per Pupil SAT Performance Staffing Dropouts Avg. Teacher 2014-15 Expenditures 2013-14 Retention Rates 2013-2014 Salary Enrollment (2012-2013 in %) (2012-13) (Reading/Math) 2014 (%) (# of Students) 2012-2013

Acton-Boxborough

5,658

90.3

$13,962

614/639

90.7

2

Not Reported

3.2

21

10.7/87.8

Auburn

2,369

86

$12,948

505/525

92

8

$61,365

2.4

18.5

3.4/94.2

Bellingham

2,381

67.5

$12,454

515/519

94.5

6

$67,385

Not Reported

18

6.4/90.8

Berlin

186

N/A

$16,162

N/A

91.3

-

$81,243

3.1

14.8

0/95.5

Berlin-Boylston

551

83

$15,039

537/539

94.4

7

Not Reported

5.1

16.6

Not Reported

Blackstone-Millville

1,775

74.1

$11,640

498/502

81.8

9

Not Reported

3.2

18.1

6/93.4

Bridgewater-Raynham 5,301

76.3

$11,976

501/518

90.7

37

Not Reported

3.5

20.3

1.7/98

Grads Attending Higher Ed

(Exemplary/Proficient %)

Boston

54,312

71.5

$17,598

432/467

80.5

854

$79,263

2.9

17.3

17.6/77.1

Boylston

297

N/A

$11,644

N/A

72.4

-

$73,154

6

18.1

Not Reported

Braintree

5,686

80.7

$12,215

524/546

90.9

9

$70,171

5.1

17.6

8.7/88.6

Brockton

17,186

74.3

$12,991

443/460

90.7

180

$82,841

2.7

18.9

1.5/97.2

Brookline

7,508

82

$16,924

588/618

85.8

11

$82,488

3.4

17.1

0/97.4

Cambridge

6,539

75.1

$27,474

516/529

89

23

$80,725

2.4

14.5

24.1/68.8

Canton

3,326

85.1

$13,739

526/556

91.5

7

$74,259

3.7

19.5

1.3/89.3

Douglas

1,544

79.8

$10,203

522/510

84.8

6

$65,321

2.4

21

14.4/83.9

Fitchburg

5,041

49.2

$13,569

432/446

89.6

73

$73,612

3.8

17.5

11.7/80.1

Framingham

8,153

78

$16,515

520/550

86

52

$75,856

3.9

16.8

5/82.2

Franklin

5,633

86

$11,131

544/559

90.5

6

$70,753

3.8

20.1

7.1/89.7

  279 Reservoir St., Holden, MA

onoring God through reative learning and strong cademics in a caring, fun-filled school!

♦Accredited by Assoc. of Christian Schools Intl. ♦Preschool (1/2 day & full day) thru Grade 8 ♦Before and after school care available ♦Happy, welcoming environment ♦Exciting, active and creative learning ♦Biblical worldview 508.829.4418

     

admissions@holdenchristianacademy.org BAYSTATEPARENT 55

Teacher Avg. Class Students Evaluation Per Computer Size 2013-2014 2010-2011 2013-2014 (Exemplary/Proficient %)

School

SAT Performance Staffing Dropouts Avg. Teacher Grads Attending Per Pupil Expenditures 2013-14 Retention Rates 2013-2014 Salary Higher Ed Enrollment (2012-2013 in %) (2012-13) (Reading/Math) 2014 (%) (# of Students) 2012-2013

Gardner

2,473

75.8

$11,344

528/518

86

35

$63,726

4.5

18.1

6/86.6

Grafton

3,148

82.1

$10,111

518/539

88.8

9

$67,938

5

21

6.1/91.2

Groton-Dunstable

2,573

87.5

$12,849

549/584

91.3

2

Not Reported

3.5

18.7

1.4/96.1

Harvard

1,143

88.2

$14,691

592/589

90.2

0

$89,489

3.4

17.1

Not Reported

Hingham

4,292

89.5

$11,430

572/591

87

12

$76,776

4.6

18.9

13.2/84.7

Holliston

2,824

88.5

$12,548

566/591

89.8

2

$76,780

2.4

16.5

1.3/95.5

Hopedale

1,223

88.2

$11,076

521/522

88.6

3

$65,225

3.4

20

4.8/91.9

Hopkinton

3,463

89.4

$13,005

563/577

92.5

2

$77,864

2.8

20.1

14.1/77.9

Hudson

2,876

80.3

$14,014

513/511

86.3

5

$71,306

2

18

6.4/91.2

Leicester

1,605

80.9

$11,792

504/507

97.4

3

$72,602

3.7

18.6

7.6/87.3

Leominster

6,096

73.7

$12,598

493/511

92.5

20

$65,344

3.1

17

1.2/98.8

Lexington

6,785

86.5

$16,812

624/651

88.4

5

$77,442

3.2

19.6

0/97.4

Littleton

1,596

89.4

$12,719

552/548

88.1

2

$64,821

3.2

18.9

8.7/87.4

Lunenburg

1,557

80.3

$12,027

542/543

92.5

2

$72,747

4

19.2

13.5/84.9

Marlborough

4,543

73

$14,723

493/521

92.7

21

$73,517

4

17.5

5.3/89.8

Marshfield

4,267

86.5

$11,424

518/527

92.6

11

$68,658

3.2

22.3

5.5/94

Maynard

1,418

83.3

$14,326

521/517

86

6

$66,188

2.3

17.3

14/80.7

Medford

4,514

77.5

$13,960

486/502

89.5

28

$67,365

2.1

16.2

11.6/78.9

Medway

2,395

86.5

$12,432

539/545

86.9

7

$82,758

3.4

18.8

9.6/86.2

Middleborough

3,120

73

$12,536

495/506

91.3

13

$66,985

7.8

20

6.7/86.6

Milford

4,176

76.1

$12,428

491/500

90.3

30

$68,113

4.1

18.7

2.1/92.8

Millbury

1,743

73.6

$13,823

472/492

91.5

7

$74,076

3.5

17.6

5.3/93.4

Narragansett

1,348

78.9

$11,986

497/501

88

4

Not Reported

2.6

17.9

10/80

Nashoba

3,475

86.4

$13,107

568/591

87.1

8

Not Reported

2.9

18.5

2.3/92.9

Natick

5,368

88.8

$13,511

544/558

88.7

4

$69,673

3.9

19.6

7.3/90.5

Newton

12,674

85.3

$17,141

588/608

91.8

5

$76,904

2.7

18.6

2.4/95.6

North Attleborough

4,598

85.4

$10,407

531/548

81.4

3

$71,698

3.5

18.5

8.8/88.8

Northborough

1,816

Not Reported

$12,929

N/A

94.6

-

$77,688

2.1

17.2

Not Reported

Northbridge

2,483

73.4

$11,655

487/493

90.6

8

$65,171

3.2

19.2

5.1/91.7

Norton

2,526

83.4

$12,848

513/523

90.7

16

$66,694

3.1

18.4

1/96.6

Norwood

3,480

82.6

$13,985

502/508

90.6

15

$67,845

4.6

16.9

8.2/83

Oxford

1,888

68.1

$12,804

501/481

92

12

$65,920

4.3

16.2

25.5/66.7

Pembroke

3,224

78.2

$10,774

503/525

91.8

10

$71,568

4.7

20.5

10.7/88.9

Plymouth

7,703

69.5

$13,453

474/493

87.2

38

$62,864

2.1

17.2

14.4/82.2

Quabbin

2,462

77.4

$13,003

506/525

90.2

18

Not Reported

4.5

17.7

12.2/85.8

Quincy

9,229

77.1

$14,642

466/516

94.2

49

$74,375

3.4

15.6

2.7/94.4

Randolph

2,904

76.1

$15,587

439/469

85.5

13

$69,425

3.3

18.3

6.2/76.7

56 AUGUST2015

Teacher Avg. Class Students Evaluation Per Computer Size 2013-2014 2010-2011 2013-2014 (Exemplary/Proficient %)

School

SAT Performance Staffing Dropouts Avg. Teacher Grads Attending Per Pupil Retention Rates 2013-2014 Salary Higher Ed Expenditures 2013-14 Enrollment (2012-2013 in %) (2012-13) (Reading/Math) 2014 (%) (# of Students) 2012-2013

Sharon

3,483

90.6

$14,659

584/608

93.8

2

$75,387

3.2

18.6

3.2/95.2

Shrewsbury

6,016

89.8

$11,612

543/574

90.8

7

$74,298

3.9

23.1

1.3/96.9

Southborough

1,336

Not Reported

$15,315

N/A

92.2

-

$86,395

1.6

17.4

Not Reported

Southbridge

2,228

53.4

$13,366

446/446

73.2

22

$65,022

1.9

19.4

0.5/94.8

Spencer-E. Brookfield

1,699

69.1

$13,049

489/504

81.4

16

Not Reported

2.2

18.6

Did Not Implement

Sudbury

2,874

-

$13,426

N/A

87.4

-

$70,279

3.2

20.2

13.9/84.3

Sutton

1,526

87.4

$11,230

525/544

93.3

3

$67,469

2.2

21.4

7.2/91.3

Taunton

7,910

66.5

$11,913

480/487

92.2

31

$73,514

3.4

20.6

Not Reported

Uxbridge

1,887

74.8

$12,477

507/508

89.1

6

$68,097

4.6

20.2

11.8/79.6

Wachusett

7,346

89.8

$10,982

536/555

89.2

19

Not Reported

4.5

19.6

22/76.6

Waltham

5,254

74.8

$18,866

473/502

87.8

52

$70,204

3.6

16.1

12.8/82.3

Wayland

2,659

87.1

$16,177

600/631

92.5

0

$89,099

2.3

17.1

7.1/90.3

Weston

2,253

85.6

$20,579

597/618

86.6

0

$87,321

1.8

17.2

15.6/82.8

Westborough

3,624

91.9

$14,306

572/599

92.8

7

$76,127

2.8

17.3

3.1/95.7

Wellesley

5,067

88.9

$17,232

598/612

88

1

$82,799

2.4

17.4

Not Reported

Weymouth

6,721

73.6

$12,610

505/508

90.7

43

$74,204

3.7

19

7.8/87.3

Worcester

25,254

67

$13,466

439/460

79.2

162

$91,504

3.4

16.6

11/83.1

EXPLORE US

Start exploring WA today or at an upcoming Open House August 24 October 18 November 8

5:30pm - 8:00pm 1:00pm - 4:00pm 1:00pm - 4:00pm

• Dynamic learning opportunities thoughtfully designed by imaginative teachers • Small classes and individual attention help students find their strengths and build confidence • Supportive environment shaped by core values of honor, respect, community, personal growth and challenge • Down to earth students and a culture of inclusivity enrich the learning experience for all members of our community • Welcoming girls and boys in Grades 6 through 12

Call 508.459.5841 or visit WorcesterAcademy.org/AdmissionEvents BAYSTATEPARENT 57

BACK TO SCHOOL

­Preschoolers

to Teens:

Back-To-School Transition Tips

BY MICHELLE PERRAS-CHARRON

As

summer ambles on and we find ourselves reveling in the warmth of the August sun at pool parties and outings, parents of school-age children slowly realize that summer vacation is about to draw to a close. Thoughts turn to the first day of school; what once appeared in the distant future is now only weeks away. That first day back can be a difficult transition for children and parents, however, there are ways to ease the kiddos back into their morning routine, while at the same time easing their minds about their return to school.

Getting Ready “Don’t make summer drastically different from fall,” advises Donna Denette, director and co-founder of Children First Enterprises in Granby.

Rather than letting children sleep in and stay up late all summer long — which makes for a difficult transition for everyone at summer’s end — she recommends simply replacing school with other fun

58 AUGUST2015

family activities, such as getting up early to garden or going for a walk in the cool morning air. Another idea: Grab the camera and go on a photography safari with your child each morning — let them take the photos!

If your children enjoy a traditional “sleep-in” summer schedule, Denette advises parents to begin transitioning it back no later than Aug. 1. This allows time to make incremental adjustments prior to the first day of school.

“Adjustment is key,” says Michael Cirillo, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, and cofounder of Cornerstone Behavioral Health in Worcester.

He also recommends gradually adjusting a child’s bedtime prior to the start of school and says this should begin, at the absolute latest, two weeks prior to the first day.

However, the sooner the better.

“It’s a different type of input when they’re at school,” he notes. “It’s more work, more demands. When kids are tired they can fall apart — they have less self-regulation, they’re irritable, and it’s hard for them to concentrate.”

How much sleep do children need?

The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following: • Preschool (ages 3-5): 10 to 13 hours • School-age (ages 6-13): 9 to 11 hours • Teens (ages 14-17): 8 to 10 hours Another way to prepare children for their first day back is to include them in back-to-school shopping and planning. Denette says parents can build excitement for the return by shopping together for a new lunchbox, backpack, or other needed school supplies. For the younger set, parents can help their children plan the first week’s lunches and/or wardrobe to build excitement, she says. For teens, that may mean shopping for that much-desired pair of sneakers, Cirillo adds.

“Anything to mentally and emotionally re-connect with the school environment,” Denette says. “Visit the classroom. Make a small ‘excited to start the year with you’ gift for your child’s new teacher. Go play at the school playground, better yet, get a group of friends together and talk about school, who has which teacher, etc.”

First Day Jitters Denette reminds parents that children are no different from adults — we all struggle with change and want to feel prepared.

“Kids fear new things and different things and they worry,” Cirillo echoes. “But you can try to ease kids’ fears by talking with them about what it will be like.”

Denette recommends having a discussion with your child to find out if they feel prepared. Let them share their specific worries and help them feel more ready to handle them. For example: “Will I know where to go when I get off the bus?” Have your child practice walking from the front door to the classroom. “Will I like the teacher?” See if your child can meet the teacher prior to the first day.

“Will I know anyone in my class?” Put word out and try to help your child find/make one friend in the classroom before school starts. Overall, Denette emphasizes the importance of talking to your child so you can help him find an acceptable comfort level and be excited for school.

Even after all of this planning,

discussion, and preparedness, the first day can still fall short for some children. With this in mind, Cirillo says parents should understand that their child might have a hard first day. It happens.

“You have to give them some time to adjust,” he says. “Be understanding. Normalize it. Don’t give them a hard time if they didn’t have a perfect first day.”

He explains that sometimes children, adolescents especially, may say things or have a less-than-desirable attitude at the beginning of a school year. They may even get into trouble at school. These behaviors usually do not repeat themselves, he says.

Children just need time to adjust.

Challenges By Age and How Parents Can Help Preschoolers have very basic needs when it comes to school, Denette says. This is because they have little concept of time, schedules, etc., and they don’t worry about the what-ifs.

They simply want to know whether they’ll have fun, sleep, eat, or miss their parents while at school. Therefore, it’s safe to say that the biggest challenge here may actually be for the parent who is dropping the child off!

“No tears — even happy ones — in front of your child,” she advises, because preschoolers do not understand what Denette refers to as “happy” or “passage of time” tears.

Denette, who works with and welcomes many new families to her organization each fall, recommends this confidently from experience.

“Parent response is key,” she says.

“Send messages of confidence. They need to know that you believe that they will be happy, safe, cared for, and loved. Even if your child has trouble separating, give a big hug and kiss with a big, confident smile. And then leave. Don’t look back. Trust your child’s teacher(s) — who have done this hundreds of times — and let them comfort, distract, and support your child through the transition/ separation.”

School-age children have greater mental capacity and, therefore, do worry about the “what ifs,” Denette notes. This can be exacerbated for an anxious child. Communicating with your child will again be your No. 1 weapon for combatting anxiety.

Denette recommends walking the grounds or school halls with your child to elicit her specific concerns and address them.

“It’s still critical to send messages of confidence. Remind your child of all the milestones s/he has already tackled,” she says.

Cirillo notes that school can be very

frustrating and a source of anxiety for school-age children, especially those with learning disabilities and/or ADHD. To help, he advises parents to foster the growth mindset. With this mindset, children know that if they persist, they’ll probably be able to succeed or figure out what is causing them difficulty. With a fixed mindset, children see their intellect as fixed, something that cannot be changed, explains Cirillo.

Teens moving into middle or high school face a major adjustment as they transition from having one or two teachers in elementary school to several in middle and high school.

“This requires a lot more organizational skills and places more demands on their executive functions (the ability to plan, focus, remember instructions, and multitask),” Cirillo notes.

Additionally, teens face social challenges at school. They are concerned about where they fit in, being “cool,” and what is “in” — all while dealing with issues of hygiene, body changes, and peer pressure.

“Teens tend not to talk to parents as much during this stage,” Denette says. “They turn to friends to answer and reassure. Don’t let them fool you!

They need to hear from you as much as ever!”

Cirillo agrees, citing a recently published comprehensive review of adolescent psychology from the past 10 years. The review found that although

teens follow a progression in which they start to “follow their tribe” more in areas of dress, language, behavior, etc., their overall core values still strongly matched those of their parents.

“Keep talking to your kids even when they seem like they want to be left alone or don’t seem to be listening,” Cirillo says. “You don’t have to be their best friend, but you want to be involved. Don’t give up.”

Denette adds there can also be a rejection of school, learning, and success at this age — all the more reason it is important for parents to be and stay involved.

“It’s important to be very aware of how your kids are doing right from the start,” Cirillo adds. Parents should be prepared to jump in early if necessary, he notes, because in high school especially, children can fall behind quickly.

So as summer draws to a close and back-to-school supplies fill store shelves once again, remember that the start of a new school year can be a fun and exciting time for your children. Model the positive attitude and excitement for school that you hope they will have. Allow them the time they need to ease back into their school day. And, most importantly, communicate with them — send messages of confidence in their abilities to succeed and they likely will.

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Why The ‘Wrong’ Teacher

Is Right For Your Child

BY MELISSA SHAW

F

orget the kids. For many parents (OK, moms, mostly) there’s a mix of excitement and anxiety when class assignments are released. Whether they come home in June with the final report card, in the mail over the summer, or are tacked on a school bulletin board in August, there’s the initial eagerness, Who did she get?, followed closely by nagging dread: Please don’t let it be _____________.

This may not happen every year, but chances are it will happen at least once in your child’s school career. There’s always a teacher with a bad reputation whom no child — or parent — wants. And, one year, your child may land in that dreaded classroom. Believe it or not, this is a good thing. “[A child] has to learn how to deal with an ineffective teacher,” says Vanessa Rodriguez, doctoral candidate at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and a 10-year veteran teacher of New York City public schools. “How is he going to ask for help? How is he going to work on his own learning strategies to help overcome [the fact] that that’s a bad teacher for him?”

A child who learns how to advocate for himself in a less-than-perfect classroom will emerge with far more real-world skills and an ability beyond what was on the curriculum that year, she says.

“The goal of every teacher — and I believe strongly of every parent — is to have a lifelong learner that’s self-sufficient,” Rodriguez adds.

“If they get everything they need individualized to their own learning styles from K-12, they will not know 62 AUGUST2015

to seek that out on their own when they leave. It’s a hard thing for a parent because you want everything for your child. But the last thing you would want is for your child not to be able to survive when you’re gone.”

Twenty-nine-year teaching veteran David McCullough, Jr. agrees.

“Having a teacher a student would otherwise prefer not to have encourages, if not forces, the kid to be more independent and to take

style, a case she makes in her 2014 book The Teaching Brain, in which she argues teaching is not the simple act of filling young minds with knowledge but rather a social cognitive skill that develops over time.

“There’s no such thing as Mr. Right for everyone, but there is a Mr. Right for me, who’s a Mr. Wrong for someone else. Teaching is no different,” she says. “There is no perfect teacher and best practice for everyone.

It’s about best fit.”

“There’s no such thing as Mr. Right for everyone, but there is a Mr. Right for me, who’s a Mr. Wrong for someone else. Teaching is no different. There is no perfect teacher and best practice for everyone.

It’s about best fit.”

- Vanessa Rodriquez, author, The Teaching Brain charge of his or her education and not leave the creation of inspiration to the teacher,” he says. “In the long run, that’s a very good skill to have.”

McCullough, the author of You’re Not Special…and Other Encouragements and an English teacher at Wellesley High School, (featured on page 94) says three of his four children have had teachers with whom they’ve been frustrated.

“All of it, in the long run, is a very good experience for them,” he notes.

“A charismatic teacher may be lousy at teaching the nuts and bolts or the teacher who’s really good at the nuts and bolts is sort of dull. Bad teachers come in all shapes and sizes.” Rodriguez says there is no one-size-fits-all teacher or teaching

And even if your child has a year with a less-than-perfect fit, “it doesn’t mean a child had an awful year,” Rodriguez says. One of the biggest parental misconceptions about the classroom she sees relates to individualized instruction. “It’s impossible to have 1-on-1 direct communication with each child at all times,” she notes. “But it’s not necessarily a bad thing that we can’t.”

While that statement seems to run counter to every parental instinct, Rodriguez urges parents to look to the future for the payoff: “As a child you don’t want him to have a successful year every year he’s in school. It would not serve your children well if they [had the ideal teacher every year]. They’re going

to go to college. They’re going to be in a lecture hall with 300 students trying to do the most difficult math they’ve ever experienced in their life and it’s going to be a real struggle.”

Who would fare better in pushing through the obstacles in that situation and advocating for extra help or time with the professor? The student armed with educational self-sufficiency or the one used to a “perfect” classroom?

Ignore Reputation “On the soccer field or in the waiting room at ballet class, you hear people talking about, ‘Who do you have next year?’ ‘Mrs. So and So.’ ‘Oh, she’s awful!” shares Heidi Richard, a mother of two and second-grade teacher in Shrewsbury.

“As a parent of school-aged children, I can see this from the other side.”

She encourages parents to form their own opinions of teachers for one simple reason: “Different kids interact differently with different adults — just like some adults we meet, we hit it off, and some we immediately can’t stand.” Richard takes her own advice professionally when it comes to students’ reputations.

“For the same reason, teachers need to form their own opinions,” she says. “Most schools have some kind of transition meeting between the grade levels at the end of the previous school year. I always tell the teachers I’m meeting with from the first grade, ‘I don’t want to know your opinion.’ I always tell them that I want to know things that were helpful in the classroom, things that will help me be more successful with this student. But I don’t want to know, ‘He’s a trouble-maker.’”

A Simple Way Parents Can Support Teachers Regardless of a teacher’s reputation, Rodriguez says there is a way parents can set their children up for

a successful school year.

“If you read a book with your child every night, just reading together, the learning that occurs in those moments will drastically shift what a teacher has to do when she’s in the classroom with them,” she says. “And I’m not just talking about English Language Arts teachers, every teacher will benefit from that. The struggles we have as a teacher in school is when children feel like their parents aren’t around for them. Whether the parents are or not, it’s the perception the child has.”

Rodriguez says the simple act of reading has incredible benefits in and outside of the classroom, far beyond fluency and comprehension: “They’re just showing their child that they’re there. This is our time and it matters. I’m here, no matter what. You don’t need to go to school and try to find somebody else that’s here for you, I’m here for you.”

The habit of reading together creates an opportunity in which a child can work through anxiety and concerns, or just engage with their parents, through the lens of a book.

“When you’re reading, it gives your child a safe space to talk about themselves by talking about the characters,” she adds. “It allows them to talk about their teachers and their friends. It also helps them to build problem-solving skills.

You’re going to wind up having these conversations that are so much more complex than we can create within a classroom.”

And those conversations yield high payoffs that even the best teachers can’t reproduce.

“That high-level cognition that’s going to occur as you’re reading with them is something we can’t replicate and we surely can’t do so in such an individualized way,” Rodriguez says. “It covers every single aspect of learning. I can design the most fascinating project in my classroom, it’s never going to compare to the natural interaction a parent has with their child. It seems simple, but it’s huge.”

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LICE:

Behind The Myths And Helpful Prevention Tips

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

Lice.

This is yet another four-letter word no parent wants to hear their child say, but recent CDC statistics report that each year between 6 million and 12 million elementary-aged students get head lice, a fact that translates into 1 out of every 4 students.

Lice are small, parasitic insects about the size of a sesame seed that attach themselves to hair on the head and neck. Their eggs, or nits, look like dandruff but are firmly attached to the hair. Once a person has an adult or two on their head, it can take up to four weeks for the itching to start. The itching is a reaction to lice saliva as they bite to drink blood. Some people never experience the itching reaction and may not even realize they have a few extra passengers.

While having lice may seem like the end of the world for parents, the insects don’t transmit diseases and, like most parasites, they are hostspecific, meaning human lice only latch on to humans and not dogs, cats, or other pets.

“Lice are really common in kids ages 3 to 11,” says Amanda Sicvol, director of marketing at TyraTech, the parent company of Vamousse, which makes lice treatment and prevention products. “Lice don’t jump or fly, they only crawl. Kids this age are not good about respecting private space and lice can take advantage of that.”

“We see a lot of cases of lice at the beginning of school, after spring break, and there is a jump after Christmas break,” says Deb Dwinell, RN, school nurse at Canterbury Street School in Worcester. “It can happen to anyone, there is no rhyme or reason to who gets lice.”

Lice don’t care whose hair they live in. Contrary to popular belief, lice are not a symptom of poor hygiene — they like clean hair best. And the belief that they won’t live in AfricanAmerican hair is a myth – they will.

64 AUGUST2015

As you prepare for the coming school year, what can parents do to reduce the likelihood of lice coming home with your child?

While the majority of lice cases are transmitted head to head, don’t discount other means of transmission.

“Don’t share hats, combs, hair ties, hair bands, barrettes, or scarves,” Dwinell advises. “You should check your kid’s hair once a week, too.”

“Parents should teach children not to share hats, combs, brushes, hair ties, pillows, sleeping bags, etc.,” echoes Risa Barash, founder and CEO of Fairy Tales Hair Care, which offers a line of lice-repelling hair products, such as shampoos, conditioners, and hair spray. “Going to a princess party? Wipe down the tiara first. At sporting events, never share caps or helmets. At school, day care, and summer camp, store jackets, backpacks, hats, swim towels, etc. in separate cubbies or in a sealed bag. It’s also important to teach kids not to share their nap mat or pillow at night, sleepovers, or during naptime.”

“Be proactive with lice,” Sicvol adds. “If you have long hair, keep it up and away from your neck. Wear a bun or a ponytail — keep it contained and back. Respect personal space. This is really hard for kids to learn, especially young kids. And don’t share your belongings. Keep your things separate from everyone else’s.”

There are a number of products on the market parents can use to proactively prevent lice from making a home in their child’s hair.

“Using organic herbs such as rosemary, tea tree, and citronella, the scent of these extracts helps repel the bugs,” advises Barash, whose products contain some of these extracts. “Plus hairspray and gel provide a coating which makes it difficult for lice to attach to the hair shaft.” Fairy Tales also offers a hair spray, Rosemary Repel, with

rosemary extract, and SoCozy sells a tea-tree-oil-infused shampoo called Boo! to scare away lice. But be cautious with extract-infused products the first time; some people may find them irritating.

How To Win Back Your Child’s Head What if your child comes home with a note from the nurse saying they have lice?

First, take a deep breath and remember that lice infestations can happen to anyone and they are very common in elementary school.

Second, you will need to treat your child, your family, and your house.

“We only send a note home if we find nits or adult lice,” Dwinell says.

“Research has shown that telling an entire class of kids doesn’t help reduce the transmission. It just increases the stress and panic. Then a lot parents treat their kids regardless.”

“We usually think of lice as a school problem,” Sicvol says, “but once the letter goes home, it is a family problem and parents should be educated about the options they have for treatment.”

You can treat your child with common over-the-counter medications to get rid of lice. Generally this includes a shampoo you leave in for a period of time, combing out of the hair with a nit-removing comb, and then a second shampooing a week later.

Parents should be aware that lice in the U.S. and Canada are becoming resistant to these methods, meaning the medications no longer kill them.

“Lice are becoming drug-resistant, and in a recent scientific study, researchers found that the rate of resistant lice are increasing, and this is especially true in warmer climates,” Sicvol adds.

There are homeopathic and natural options for killing lice once an infestation occurs. These products include Vamousse Anti Lice Shampoo, which contains eucalyptus oil as well as natural ingredients to dry out lice so they die before laying eggs. Because these are natural products, they are not regulated by the USDA. Generally these kill the lice and eggs by drying them out. “Don’t use home remedies like mayonnaise, they just don’t work,” says Dwinell.

If you have treated and the treatment isn’t working, you need to call your doctor. Pediatricians have options that include lice-killing medications.

A final option is a lice salon such as the Lice Aunties, NitPickers, and Desperate Lousewives. These salons specialize in treatment of lice and nit removal. They will often use a similar set of procedures where they treat the head, then comb out the nits. Check the prices and products carefully when using these services as they vary and can be quite expensive.

Once everyone in the family is treated, you need to treat the house, too. “Do a good vacuuming and a good washing of all the sheets, pillow cases, blankets, in hot water,” says Dwinell. You will need to vacuum daily between treatments, and items that cannot be washed in hot water and put in the dryer, like soft toys, stuffed animals, or dolls, can be put in a sealed bag for a week or two. The lice will die without a human to live on, but eggs last a week. Ensure that items are sealed longer than a week.

After you have treated, no matter the method, check your school policy about returning to class. Some schools will allow students back right away and others need to have an examination by the school nurse before returning to class.

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Back-To-School

Tips For Newly Separated Families

BY ATTY. IRWIN POLLACK

From meeting with new teachers to seeing old friends, the new school year generates excitement and a myriad of other emotions in your children. Transitioning from a relaxed summer schedule into more of a structured regimen tends to come with challenges — even more so if your family is starting the new year while adjusting to a recent separation or divorce.

Co-parenting after divorce presents parents with unique challenges and back-to-school is one of the more essential times for parents to work together in order to make their child’s readjustment to school life as smooth as possible.

Here are some suggestions that will help ease the transition and get both parents and their children acclimated to the upcoming year: 1. By mid-August, begin transitioning into a more structured schedule. Start re-introducing bedtimes, creating pre-bedtime routines, and establishing morning procedures.

2. Prepare a monthly schedule. Make sure your children know where they are staying each night, which parent will be dropping them off and picking them up at school, and who will be taking them to playdates and other activities.

3. Create an online calendar.

Use an online calendar, such as Google Calendar, to keep track of school holidays, weekly activities, and practices that come with active children.

4. Communicate with your co-parent as to how you wish to approach parentteacher conferences. While it’s ideal for both parents

to meet with teachers together, that may not be possible in your situation; just make decisions so that the two of you are on the same page. Many separations and divorces take place during the summer and it’s important to let your child’s teacher know so he or she will be better prepared to help your child.

5. Consider making an appointment with your child’s guidance counselor.

Since returning to school after a recent family split can be a challenge for most children, tap into as many resources as the school makes available.

6. Talk to your children about how they want to handle lunches — brown bags from home or buying lunch at the cafeteria. Lunch is a big deal for students, and if your child feels your concern for his wants and needs, he will feel your attentiveness and love.

7. Stay tuned into homework and school projects. Make sure children have whatever school supplies they need at both homes. Encourage neat work stations. Make a big deal about even the smallest successes at school.

8. Create some type of culture that encourages a nightly chat – just before bedtime. Give your children the opportunity to talk about anything that’s on their mind. Give them alone time and lots of space so that they’re comfortable expressing their feelings.

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67

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t’s time for some fresh air at Miss Tanya’s Nursery School in Westborough. A jumble of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds spill out the side door onto the playground and scatter, like a bag of marbles hitting the kitchen floor.

Sticks, Stones & Shovels: Creating the Next Generation of Problem Solvers STORY AND PHOTOS BY MELISSA SHAW

68 AUGUST2015

The first child out makes a beeline for a plastic rain gutter, which extends from the top of the play yard fence to the ground like a giant slide.

A garden hose supplies water at the top, the boy sits at the bottom with an old kettle, catching the water and sending it down a narrow “river.”

Four classmates grab shovels and begin digging, enlarging the makeshift waterway in some places and rerouting it in others until it hits a dam currently under construction by two other tiny engineers.

Across the yard, five boys stack thick woodchips on a large log, while one enterprising soul transfers brick after brick from the ground into a toy wagon, then starts to pull. His face screws up with effort, especially when he hits a small ditch and can’t move an inch. The boy stops, assesses the situation, and begins unloading brick by brick until he can make the wagon budge.

Welcome to recess, with nary a swing, slide, toy, or climbing structure in sight. In fact, it looks like a preschool sprung up in the world’s tidiest junk yard: weathered milk crates house bricks, old pots and pans, shovels, pieces of slate, and wood scraps of varying shapes and sizes.

Owner Tanya Trainor scrapped the school’s traditional playground about a year ago after the state’s Department of Early Education and Care released new school guidelines for playground equipment. Structures and equipment previously deemed safe, which had been in use in her playground and many others for years, had to come down, which led Trainor to wonder what she would do with the space.

She thought back on her childhood and that of her children, which prompted a desire to go “back to basics,” leading Trainor and her staff to incorporate and embrace what is technically known as the Theory of Loose Parts. Proposed by architect Simon Nicholson in the early ’70s, his belief holds that an environment filled with materials that can be moved, manipulated, and combined into various combinations is infinitely more beneficial for children than one filled with static, fixed-use toys or equipment. The name sound fancy, but the idea behind this edu-

cational philosophy is basic: Give young children access to everyday items and see where their imaginations take them.

“If I hand a child a wooden puzzle there’s one way to do it,” Trainor says. “Pots and pans, flowers, sand, dirt, sticks, bricks: they allow you to use the material any way you want.”

“Children engage with these materials in a very profound way,” notes Miriam Beloglovsky, a professor of early childhood education at Consumnes River College in Sacramento, Calif., and co-author of Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children. “It is beyond just going and buying a toy. A toy is a toy is a toy. You push the button and you’re done with it. With different loose parts they are really engaging more in-depth.”

While the equipment is simple, the results it produces in young children are anything but. “Loose parts promotes intellectual learning, which is critical thinking, curiosity, inquirybased knowledge, and creativity,” she adds.

Suddenly, that piece of scrap wood is a bridge over a raging river (which is technically a slow flow of water from the aforementioned repurposed rain gutter). Stacked bricks and slate become walls and shelter, silk flowers a forest.

In the world of today’s technologycentered, highly scheduled, and organized child, Trainor says loose parts fill a critical gap.

“They’re very inwardly focused,” she notes of today’s children.

“There’s the communication, the social-emotional skills that come from having to work with one another and use materials cooperatively — they’re not there. The nice thing about loose parts is it requires communication, you’ve got to talk to your friends. If you’re going to build something you’ve got to talk about how you’re going to build it, what it’s going to look like. If you have 50 bricks, you’ve got to figure out what the heck to do with 50 bricks. Or you have a bunch of sticks and everyone wants to use a stick; everybody’s going to divide them up and talk about how many sticks they can get.

You have to negotiate, you have to take turns — all of those wait-yourturn social-emotional skills that are

so important for moving forward in their education.”

In a structured, rules-based world, Trainor says loose parts offers amazing freedom, creativity, and collaborative time based on one thrilling notion: “anything goes.”

“Not that solitary play is not good,” she clarifies, “but social-emotional is what these children really need.

I want children to explore, have experiences, and learn and grow, use their imagination, and not be funneled into one activity.”

Trainor and her staff report that this environment has resulted in better behavior on the playground, too; there are fewer disagreements, arguments, or tears thanks to the plethora of open-ended, found materials available. The days of impatiently waiting for a turn on the playground slide or the rope ladder climb are over.

A study conducted between 20062009 on playgrounds infused with loose parts determined that behavior issues decreased and enjoyment for the day — teachers and children — increased, notes Loose Parts coauthor Lisa Daly, a professor of early childhood education at Folsom Lake College in Folsom, Calif.

“The teachers had a more positive day, they didn’t feel like they were always having to put out fires, they didn’t have to do as much behavior

management,” she notes. “They were more relaxed and started to enjoy coming to work more. “

Benefits Beyond Kindergarten Readiness The power of creative, openended, unstructured play is the center of loose parts and an asset that experts say will greatly aid these children in the future.

Beloglovsky and Daly cite Department of Labor statistics that report that 65% of the jobs of the future have not been created yet.

“We’re preparing children for something we don’t know what it’s going to look like.

If you look at interviews with CEOs, the skills,

disposition, and knowledge they want children to have in order to be employable in the future are very different than just memorization and academics,” Beloglovsky says.

Adds Daly: “Children need to have critical thinking, problem-

solving skills, collaborative thinking. All of that happens when you have loose parts.” She points to the experience of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, noting that the organization experienced a slate of veteran engineer retirements and hired the best and the brightest from the U.S.’s top universities to replace them. Yet the new hires were not working out and JPL

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- Miriam Beloglovsky, early childhood education professor and author couldn’t figure out why.

“They did a research study and determined [the young engineers] had not tinkered as children,” Daly notes. Subsequently, JPL has updated its job descriptions, adding: “must have tinkered as a child.”

“We’re so bombarded with commercialism: ‘You have to have this toy to increase your child’s intelligence.’

Everything has to have an educational stamp on it,” she continues.

“I think those things are so limiting and in many ways doing harm to children.”

Adds Beloglovsky: “We want children to be children. We want to preserve play. We want parents to trust their children and to know that they know. By using and manipulating the objects in loose parts, they are learning what they really need to know but they’re also going to know more.”

And to answer a popular parent question: Yes, your child will be “ready” for kindergarten, Beloglovsky says. “What we want parents and teachers to understand is the children will be ready, but more important they will be thinking without a box,” she says. Forget thinking outside of the box, she prefers a new term: “no-box thinking.”

In their experience teaching the theory to college students and in working with preschoolers, the authors note another benefit: because materials are already around the house, found outside,

or upcycled, loose parts is very lowcost or free for parents to implement at home.

“It crosses all social, economic, racial and ethnic boundaries,” Daly says. “They’re just available for everybody. It’s fun and exciting to see what people are doing with them and how parents get so involved in it. Parents are beginning to realize loose parts are available everywhere.”

Mom Jane Ellis of Westborough can attest to that. When she recently bought two shoe racks from IKEA, her 5- and 7-year-old children weren’t interested in helping her assemble them.

“What they were interested in was the box, the small pieces of cardboard inside, and all of the little packing pieces,” she recalls. “Off they went and I didn’t see them for a good hour. They come back and said, ‘Mommy, we’ve made a whole doctor’s kit. From this piece of cardboard we made some tweezers and this is our little Band-Aid kit, then they were playing and tending to their stuffed animals.”

A self-described minimalist who’s also “a little frugal,” Ellis says she’s been incorporating a loose parts lifestyle into her home without even knowing it had a name.

“I never bought my kids blocks you could stack, I just let them use the Tupperware we already had,” she says. “I thought, ‘Well, we already have something that can do the same thing, so let’s use those.”

Ellis notes her children do own toys, such as Legos, which the family uses to play a game in which they have to grab as many as they can hold in their hands, make something, and describe it.

“They like knowing they’re going to get to describe it and explain what they’ve done,” she adds. “Which then makes them more creative about what they’re doing. The more they create, I feel the more creative they become.”

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How To Incorporate Loose Parts At Home Want to introduce more creativity and less commercialism into your child’s life? Loose parts aren’t confined to educational settings, they’re easily found and incorporated into a home, experts say.

• “Loose parts are available everywhere,” Beloglovsky says. They can be upcycled, safe materials found around your home, indoors or out: pots and pants, wooden spoons, metal bowls, paper towel rolls, egg cartons, blankets, fabric, old laundry baskets, you name it. “Real people things that aren’t going to break in a week,” Trainor adds.

• If you’re itching to buy something, toys that align with the theory include Legos, wooden train sets that can be taken apart and reassembled in various ways and, Trainor says, “as many blocks as you can afford.”

• Easy places to find new loose parts: yard sales, thrift shops, or Craigslist. Or tell your friends and family you’re on the hunt for such goodies, they probably have old household or outdoor items they’re dying to get rid of.

• Popular outdoor loose parts are anything you can find in your backyard. Sticks, stones, wood scraps, gravel, pallets, shells, logs, rope, bricks from that patio you never finished, buckets, the list is endless. The ultimate loose part?

Water.

Trainor uses old milk crates, “so the children can come and shop, take what they want, and move along.”

• “Give them lots of whatever you’re giving them,” Trainor advises. “Not one wooden spoon but 10 wooden spoons. Not one shovel but four shovels. If you have four shovels, four people can be working together.”

• Mom Jane Ellis says a great place to introduce your children to the concept is the beach: “Don’t bring a heap of toys. Bring maybe one shovel, a bucket, maybe five items.

The whole rest of the beach is a play zone, a place to gather things, create things, and start using the elements as their playground.”

• Indoors, author Daly advises parents to start small: “Start in a corner. Don’t feel like you have to turn your entire house into loose parts,” she says. “In the kitchen, have a drawer a child could open up and get out the pots and pans or the Tupperware containers.”

• When watching you children play, “try to zip your lips and just observe,” Trainor encourages. “As long as it’s safe, let it go. You will be the magnet in the neighborhood if you allow that kind of play; all the children will be at your house.”

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COMMON CORE OPPOSITION

Gains Momentum in Massachusetts

BY DOUG PAGE

F

rom the Connecticut River Valley to Beacon Hill, a growing chorus of Bay Staters — teachers, parents, school administrators, and even elected officials — are speaking out against Common Core and its aligned PARCC test, but it’s uncertain if there’s enough resistance to stop it.

The opposition starts with proposed legislation, sponsored

by State Rep. Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge), which prohibits the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) from using the PARCC exam for three years and, instead, instructs schools to continue administering the homegrown, 17-year-old MCAS test.

The bill, co-sponsored by more than 50 state representatives and senators, would also remove a current requirement in which tenth grade students must achieve a specified minimum MCAS score to qualify for a high school diploma. In addition, teachers and school administrators would not be held accountable for their students’ MCAS results.

“We need to take a breath and pause before adding another layer of standardized testing in PARCC,” Decker said. “We need to have a

much more thoughtful conversation about what’s happening, who’s falling behind, and why we haven’t moved the needle significantly for low-income students.”

Yet for Decker and her co-sponsors, the proposed bill might be too late.

The Massachusetts Board of Education is expected to vote this fall on which standardized test to use — PARCC or MCAS — and it might come long before Decker’s bill is voted on by either the Joint Committee on Education or the full state legislature, said Angela Hall, a committee spokeswoman on Beacon Hill.

“The Secretary of Education [James Peyser] would be quite foolish to flout the authority of the chair [Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley] of the Joint Education Committee,” said Tom Birmingham, a former president of the Massachusetts state senate.

This is especially true, he said, if the committee or state legislature votes for the moratorium on PARCC. “I would hope that through this legislation, [the Board of Education] would see there’s a really public vehicle and public conversation about the path we’re on and make their decisions accordingly,” Decker said.

PARCC, an acronym for Partner-

ship for Assessment for Readiness of College and Careers, is a private, non-profit consortium started with a $170 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to create a new Common Core-based standardized test for elementary and secondary public school students in the United States. PARCC is working with Pearson PLC, a nearly $8 billion British multi-national publishing corporation, to develop and finalize the new standardized test, which, in theory, would be adopted by states remaining in the PARCC consortium.

The History of Massachusetts and Common Core

The Massachusetts Board of Education (BOE) voted to adopt Common Core in July 2010, essentially scrapping the Massachusetts Education Reform Act, which was passed in both houses of the state legislature and signed by then-Gov. William Weld in 1993. The BOE sets policies for the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which oversees all Massachusetts elementary and secondary public schools.

Commissioner Mitchell Chester,

head of DESE, then-Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, and then-Gov. Deval Patrick supported the 11-member Board’s vote, saying Common Core would reduce the number of Massachusetts high school graduates requiring remedial math and English classes in college.

The issue, however, was never put to a vote before the state legislature.

Instead, DESE applied for a $250 million Race to the Top grant from the U. S. Department of Education (DOE) to implement Common Core across the state’s public schools.

“I don’t know if individual legislators are upset about how Common Core came about, but I think they would be entitled to be angry,” said Birmingham, a co-sponsor of the 1993 Education Reform Act. “It was a complete end-run around the legislature.”

Problems Ahead

Issues facing Decker’s bill include its legality and the possible threat it poses to federal government money the state uses to fund schools.

Nearly a year ago, Assistant U. S. Education Secretary Deborah Delisle wrote Chester, informing him that Massachusetts is required under federal law to administer a standardBAYSTATEPARENT 77

BACK TO SCHOOL ized test — one that is aligned with Common Core K-12 educational standards — during the 2015-2016 academic year. Only the PARCC test is aligned with Common Core and meets the federal law’s requirement, Chester says.

If the Bay State doesn’t comply, $200 million from the DOE could be forfeited, Chester says. However, based on recent history, it’s uncertain whether the DOE will carry out that threat. Last year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that only its state legislature — not Oklahoma’s Board of Education — could decide if the state’s public schools could adopt Common Core. Similar to Massachusetts, only Oklahoma’s Board of Education voted for Common Core, not its state legislature.

While Oklahoma’s Supreme Court ruling received a swift, negative response from the DOE — essentially threatening to withhold federal money — the department soon reversed itself, saying Oklahoma qualified for federal funds after all.

Bay State Resistance

Although national pushback against Common Core is increasing, a slim majority of adults – 53% — support the framework while 26% are opposed, according to a poll in

Education Next, a journal published at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

It’s difficult to pinpoint Massachusetts residents’ overall opinion on Common Core. The state hasn’t seen protests like New York and New Jersey, where more than 200,000 students across both states refused to take a Common Corealigned test this past spring, nor has it witnessed what happened in Seattle earlier this year, when all 280 juniors at Nathan Hale High School refused to sit for their exam aligned with the new standards.

In addition to the Decker bill, Massachusetts Common Core resistance includes 13 cities and towns (Abington, Brookfield, Cambridge, Halifax, Hampden, Hanson, Holland, Lakeville, Norfolk, Orange, Tewksbury, Uxbridge and Whitman) that have adopted non-binding resolutions against the new standards during their annual town meetings.

These actions have no legal authority, reflecting only the feelings of the participants attending the meetings. In addition, three school committees — Tantasqua, Worcester and Amherst-Pelham — also voted against Common Core through nonbinding resolutions.

In western Massachusetts this year, Marc Ducey, chairman of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional

District School Committee, lost an election to William Bontempi, who ran on an anti-Common Core platform.

And 16 school districts have formed the Western Massachusetts Education Leaders Coalition, which sent a petition to DESE’s Chester, members of the Board of Education, and Gov. Charlie Baker, saying the PARCC exam is “being implemented without adequate funding and technology” and “without enough involvement from Massachusetts educators and ahead of (School) Districts’ capacity to implement new curriculum standards.” The coalition is also asking Chester to share the results of the 2013-2014 PARCC test, which was piloted in some Bay State school districts for the first time during that academic year.

“We’re not opposed to accountability and standards, but the amount of standardized testing is costly and interrupts teaching and learning, and that’s our primary mission,” said Martin O’Shea, superintendent of the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, who also chairs the coalition.

The petition, sent in December, has yet to garner a response, said Todd Gazda, Ludlow School District Superintendent.

Last month, the grassroots Common Core Forum, consisting of

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Donna Colorio, who leads the organization, said she and her members want Massachusetts to return to the K-12 educational standards used prior to Common Core.

Meanwhile, interest groups, such as the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Fair Test, and Citizens for Public Schools, have rallied support for State Rep. Decker’s proposed bill and against the new standards.

What’s The Fuss?

Frederick Hess, an Education Next executive editor, says the genesis of negative reaction to Common Core across the country sprung from its implementation — via only a vote by states’ Boards of Education and not their legislatures.

“People [in many states] feel like the wool’s been pulled over their eyes, and they’re not going to judge it with a measure of equanimity, but with a measure of suspicion and ill will,” he said. “And when [Common Core] advocates responded by saying, ‘You don’t understand,’ they put gasoline on the fire.”

Those feelings forced many states to drop out of PARCC, a nine-state consortium developing the test for Massachusetts and other member

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Digital PARCC

Additional resistance to PARCC stems from the cost school districts will incur in order to administer the test, which is taken on computers.

Tom Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, estimates the cost at “tens of millions of dollars.”

“Seventy-five million dollars,” noted State Rep. Keiko Orrall (R-Lakeville), citing a number she said was given to her by Commissioner Chester.

The cost doesn’t involve simply updating a school’s software and hardware, it also entails hours of labor to ensure a district’s digital systems are working properly and fund teacher training, Scott said. When asked if the taxpayers in individual school districts will pay

for these updates, he noted: “The money is going to have to come from somewhere.”

“If we move forward with this initiative, not every [school district] will be on the same page,” Orrall said at the Board of Education’s Bridgewater forum. “This is a justice

“I don’t know if individual legislators are upset about how Common Core came about, but I think they would be entitled to be angry.”

“It was a complete end-run around the legislature.”

- Tom Birmingham, former Massachusetts Senate president issue, a fairness issue, and there are some districts that are wealthier than others. The reality is we can’t ensure, across the board, that people will be able to afford this new initiative.”

Orrall also noted that Chester has yet to fulfill her request for a spreadsheet detailing what it will cost each school district to improve its systems for PARCC. Jacqueline Reis, Chester’s spokesperson, couldn’t confirm what the statewide cost would be to ready school districts for the PARCC.

Observations On Digital PARCC

Kalpana Guttman, Newton elementary school literacy specialist, a former fourth grade teacher, and her school’s PARCC administrator, noticed something different when third graders took the computerized version of the PARCC test this year.

“We’ve been giving the MCAS for years and we haven’t had kids coming to pieces when they were taking these tests [on pencil and paper],” she said. “We had children falling apart taking these tests [on the computer].”

Questions on the sample version of the digital PARCC test seemed so convoluted, Guttman asked her Ph.D. husband to complete the sample fourth grade English test, just to check her observations. He noticed that one question asked him to write an essay about the common theme of two passages. Yet they didn’t have a theme in common, he said, so he wasn’t sure if he was expected to write one essay or two, Guttman reported. “Now what’s really odd is

BACK TO SCHOOL

states. A 26-state consortium just five years ago, Hess said it’s possible membership could drop to seven.

Should Decker’s bill become law, the move would be disconcerting for DESE’s Chester, given he’s also chairman of the PARCC Governing Board. Some have questioned whether that role is a conflict of interest given Chester is state DESE commissioner while also overseeing development of the PARCC exam. Paul Sagan, chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, says it isn’t. During recent public forum meetings in Springfield and Lynn, Sagan said that Chester serves on the PARCC board at the behest of Massachusetts. Chester is only compensated for his work as Massachusetts’ education commissioner, Sagan said, and, therefore, there is no conflict of interest.

Because so much controversy surrounds PARCC, Gov. Baker ordered the state’s Board of Education to hold five public forums around the Commonwealth to hear testimony from parents, teachers, students, school administrators, current and former state government officials, and curriculum experts about the new test and Common Core.

During a Lynn forum, one parent — who’s also a software and electrical engineer — testified how under Common Core, elements of math instruction are pushed back to later grades compared to previous Massachusetts standards.

“As an engineer, I can tell you there is a defined set of topics a child or student needs to learn before taking Algebra,” said Valerie Mollo of Wilmington, the mother of a fifth grader. “By pushing topics off the plate year after year after year the way Common Core does, it’s going to push Algebra out for these students to the ninth grade.

For any student who wants to pursue a STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Math] degree, this will hurt their chances greatly.”

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she added, showing that on a computer screen, the window was about 1 inch in height.

Common Core critics are also concerned that students’ PARCC scores

will be used to determine teacher competence.

“If you look at the research, teacher effectiveness only accounts for 10% to 15% of student performance, so more than half of what determines student performance happens outside the school walls,” said Anthony Cody, a former Oakland, Calif., middle school math and science teacher, and author of the book, The Educator And The Oligarch: A Teacher Challenges The Gates Foundation.

“It includes the home life of the kids, parental education, whether or not they’re living in poverty — those items are the lion’s share of what determines student achievement,” he said, noting children from higher socioeconomic backgrounds do better on standardized tests than their peers in lower-income households.

Cody also noted standardized

tests make some teachers “game the system and only teach for the test.”

Making the Grade

PARCC opponents also dislike the assertion that Pearson advertised for part-time test-graders by posting ads on Craigslist. “[Test grading is] seasonal work,” Educational Next’s Hess said. “So Pearson needs seasonal employees to grade it. It’s kind of like the way stores staff up for the Christmas season. You’re not going to find highly skilled professionals waiting to be hired for eight to 12 weeks to grade these tests. So how are you going to find them? Through Craigslist and help wanted ads.” baystateparent reached out to Pearson for confirmation on this and other issues, but calls were not returned.

Who’s Who In Massachusetts Education Officials

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BACK TO SCHOOL

that the test is supposed to make you career and college ready, but there is not one career I can think of in which you’re expected to read multiple texts in a window this size,”

© 2015 MARVEL

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Unless you work in education, there’s a good chance your knowledge of education officials doesn’t extend beyond your child’s principal or your district’s School Committee. Yet there are many key players when it comes to setting the curriculum and policies for Massachusetts public schools, all of which will have a direct impact on your child.

Here’s a cheat sheet of key officials, boards, and departments you should know:

The Massachusetts Board of Education sets the policies DESE will follow and implement in K-12 schools.

The 11-member Board is led by Paul Sagan, who works full-time at General Catalyst Partners, a venture capital firm that funds start-up companies.

His position with the board is unpaid.

Sagan was appointed to the Board by Gov. Charlie Baker. Members of the Board of Education are appointed by the governor for five-year terms. No member of the Board can serve for more than two terms, or 10 years.

Mitchell Chester, commissioner of state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), was appointed to the job in 2008 by then Gov. Deval Patrick. He reports to the Board of Education and the Secretary of Education. Chester leads DESE, which oversees all of the Commonwealth’s public K-12 schools. Chester is secretary to the Massachusetts Board of Education and is not allowed to vote on any issues facing the Board.

James Peyser was appointed Secretary of Education by Gov. Baker and reports to him in this cabinet position. Prior to becoming secretary of education, a full-time position, he led the Massachusetts Board of Education as its chairman from 1999 – 2006. He also worked for the New Schools Venture Fund, which raised and directed $150 million to more than 300 charter schools around the country. Charter schools are public schools.

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Ask The Expert is a new monthly column in which medical professionals field questions on parenting, child development, behavior, and more.

Have a question? Email editor@baystateparent.com; reader names will not be published.

My 12-year-old has been invited to his first co-ed party. I don't know the parents. My husband thinks I worry too much, but I'd like to call them and ask about supervision, etc. I’m even wondering if I should ask if there are guns in the home. What is appropriate in this situation?

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Dear Reader, As your son transitions into his teenage years, invitations to outings such as co-ed parties will become more common. How you communicate about these inevitable events may set the tone for your relationship with your teen — and your teen’s behavior — throughout these transitional years.

It’s a good sign that your son was transparent about the party being co-ed; maintaining that open line of communication is important. For this event and others like it, there are steps you can take to fulfill your role as a parent while also allowing your child valuable time with peers.

Communicate openly and often.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of communication with your child. When you have concerns about an upcoming event, you should verbalize them to him in a way that does not sound accusatory.

Ahead of the party, ask your son if he is aware of the dangers of alcohol, drugs, and firearms, and have a conversation about the risks. Your tone will be crucial in this conversation, as it is essential that he feels trusted.

Be a parent. Some parents confuse creating a close relationship with acting more like a friend than a parent. The reality is, the decisionmaking part of your child’s brain is not fully developed, and your guid-

ance and oversight are needed. You are completely justified in calling the parents of the party host to address any concerns lurking in your mind.

This is another area in which tone is critical. You are not accusing these parents of not keeping a well-supervised home, but simply ensuring that your son is in a safe environment.

Set boundaries. Boundaries are necessary as your child begins attending more social events. For example, if you agree on a time that you will be picking him up, make sure he knows that he is expected to be in a given place at a given time and adheres to that plan. This allows him freedom to attend the event while still being given structure that is appropriate for his age.

Look for teachable moments. While I recommend speaking with your son before the party, you should also embrace everyday teachable moments. For example, if there is a scene in a television show that you deem inappropriate, it is best to have a discussion about why you find it offensive, rather than simply turning the television off. This opens up a dialogue, rather than closing the door.

Put yourself in your child’s shoes.

Do not forget that you were a teenager once. Thinking back, it is easy to recall that teenagers only want to be normal and to be liked by their peers and parents.

The right tone of communication – with the parents of your son’s friend, but especially with your son – is critical in this scenario. Striking a balance between setting boundaries and demonstrating trust can be challenging, but communication can help. The best approach, though, would be an ongoing dialogue – after all, this party invitation is likely the first of many new experiences.

Laura Grubb, MD, MPH, is an adolescent medicine specialist and pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center.

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Underdogs • Not yet rated, likely PG • In theaters Aug. 14 • OK for kids 7+ • Reel Preview: 4.5 of 5 Reels

Coming to theatres, DVD & Blu-Ray releases this month

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Fantastic Four • Not yet rated, likely PG-13 • In Theaters Aug. 7 • OK for kids 12+ • Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels Inspired by the Ultimate Fantastic Four comics, this movie offers a modern take on Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team. The story centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The team must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. The cast includes Miles Teller as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic; Kate Mara as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman; Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch; and Jamie Bell as Ben Grimm/The Thing.

This animated adventure follows Jake (Matthew Morrison), a shy but talented foosball player whose passion for the game is rivaled only by his love for free-spirited Laura (Ariana Grande). With her encouragement, he beats the town bully in a foosball game, but everything changes when Ace becomes the world’s best soccer player and returns years later to turn their village into a new sports stadium. He starts to destroy everything, kidnaps Laura in the process, and just when all hope seems lost, the toy figures from Jake’s foosball table come to life. He and the players embark on a wild adventure to save Laura, reclaim their village, and save the day with the help of his team, his town, and a little magic.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. • Rated PG-13 for action violence, some suggestive content and partial nudity • In theaters Aug. 14 • OK for kids 13+ • Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels Set against the backdrop of the early 1960s at the height of the Cold War, the big screen version of this TV classic centers on CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Ilya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer), who are forced to put aside longstanding hostilities and team up on a joint mission to stop a mysterious international criminal organization that’s bent on causing chaos via nuclear weapons and technology. The duo’s only lead is the daughter of a vanished German scientist, who is the key to infiltrating the criminal organization. It’s a race against time to find him and prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

New on Blu-ray

Free Willy • Rated PG • On Blu-ray Aug. 4 • OK for Kids 6+ • Reel Review: 3.5 of 5 Reels On Blu-ray for the first time, this movie tells the tale of Willy (Keiko the orca whale), captured at sea and confined in a small tank at an aquatic park, unhappy and unpredictable. No one understands Willy except a scruffy street kid named Jesse, who knows what it’s like to be without a family. Together these two form a special bond, one so strong that they’re willing to risk it all to find a way home!

88 AUGUST2015

The Prophet • Not yet rated, likely PG • In theaters Aug. 7 • OK for kids 8+ • Reel Preview: 4.5 of 5 Reels Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek, Quvenzhane Wallis, John Krasinski, Alfred Molina, and Frank Langella are a few of the actors voicing characters in the animated production based on Khalil Gibran’s best-known fictional work. One of the bestselling books of all time, The Prophet has sold more than 100 million copies since its original publication in 1923. The Lebanese-born Gibran is the third most-read poet in history, after Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.

Jane’s Reel Rating System • One Reel – Even The Force can’t save it.

• Two Reels – Coulda been a contender.

• Three Reels – Something to talk about.

• Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!

• Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Head to baystateparent.com/ August Flicks for a full list of movies heading to theatres and DVDs this month.

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our august favorites monday

sunday

tuesday

wednesday

Starting on the date the prize appears, log on to baystateparent.com to enter for your chance to win.

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It’s National Sisters Day. Do something nice for the woman whose clothes you “borrowed” repeatedly growing up.

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Cheering from the sidelines doesn’t mean roasting in the sun or settling for uncomfortable bleachers. Quik Shade’s MAX Shade Chair offers 40% more shade and easily tilts or raises as the suns moves. Visit baystateparent.com today for your chance to win this lightweight sideline lifesaver, a $39.99 value.

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The North American yellow school bus first appeared in 1939. Want to paint your vehicle the same color? The official color name is “National School Bus Glossy Yellow.”

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The Complete Tooth Fairy Kit provides everything parents need to cherish their child’s toothless smile and celebration the tradition, including a cute keepsake album, a magical tooth/ coin pouch, door hanger reminder, and more! Enter to win this $24.95 kit today at baystateparent.com.

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21

15 15{Fact} Before states mandated that schools be paid for with government funds, towns provided a place to live, fuel for heat, and food for the teacher. Students were often required to help maintain the schoolhouse, a duty that included showing up on Saturdays to give it a thorough cleaning.

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INDEX Applewild School................................................. 59 B.A.W. Inc.......................................................... 52 Backyard Adventures.......................................... 39 Bancroft School.................................................. 95 Battleship Cove................................................... 66 Beacon ABA Services........................................... 26 Big Y Foods, Inc.................................................. 11 F3...................................................................... 72 Breezy Picnic Grounds........................................ 84 Bridge of Central MA, Inc (The)........................... 53 Build Me Up Play Center..................................... 23 Cambridge Friends School................................... 60 CCS Dance Academy........................................... 27 Central MA Dance Academy................................ 81 Charlotte Klein Dance Centers............................. 84 Child Works........................................................ 63 Children’s Development Network, Inc.................. ..6 Children’s Friend Inc........................................... ..3 Cornerstone Academy......................................... 54 Davis Farmland................................................2,18 DCU Center.....................................................71,80 Diane Kelley Dance Studio.................................. 54 Discovery Museums............................................ 69 Ecotarium......................................................15,83 Eric Carle Museum.............................................. 53 Faucher Dance School......................................... 61 Fay School.......................................................... 52 Fletcher Tilton PC................................................ 24 FMC Ice Sports.................................................... 65 Geico................................................................. 87 Girls Inc............................................................. 84 Great Wolf New England..................................... 76 Greater Quincy Child Care................................... 12 Gymnastics Learning Center................................ 60 The Hanover Theatre.......................................... 31 Harrington Oil.................................................... 25 Harvard Grad School of Education....................... 35 Heywood Hospital............................................... 32 Holden Christian Academy.................................. 55 Indian Hill Music School...................................... 63 Kathy Corrigan’s Full Day Care Center................. 63 Legoland Discovery Center Boston....................... 91 Living Earth........................................................ 33 Lowell Summer Music......................................... 41

at 508-865-7070 ext. 210 or regina@baystateparent.com

Lucy Johnson Fitzgerald Dance........................... 13 Mall at Whitney Field.......................................... 10 Marini Farm....................................................... 35 McDonald’s Corporation...................................... 86 Metrowest Jewish Day School.............................. 79 Millbury Federal Credit Union............................. 25 Millbury Savings Bank........................................ 34 Nashoba Montessori School................................. 46 New Horizon Karate & More............................... 39 Next Generation Children’s Center....................... ..5 Oak Meadow...................................................... 61 Old Sturbridge Village.....................................20,21 Pakachoag Community Music.............................. 23 Pardes............................................................... 82 Paula Meola Dance............................................. 89 Pixie Children’s Boutique.................................... 22 Reliant Medical Group....................................29,85 Rise and Shine Academy..................................... 43 Rob Roy Coiffures............................................... 67 S.E.T. School....................................................... 70 SALMON Health & Retirement............................. 26 Seven Hills Charter School................................... 26 Sholan Farms..................................................... 34 Shrewsbury Children’s Center.............................. 75 Signarama Worcester.......................................... 93 Skribbles Learning Center................................... 73 Small Miracles Preschool..................................... 15 Smuggler’s Notch Resort..................................... 81 Southwick’s Zoo.................................................. 73 Spa Tech Institute............................................... ..9 St. Mary’s Schools............................................... 44 The Bolton Fair................................................... 78 The Chestnut Hill School...................................... 69 The Children’s Workshop..................................... 84 The Learning Zone.............................................. 75 Turn 4 Hobbies................................................... 41 UMass Memorial Medical Center................18,89,96 Village Automotive Group................................... 15 Wachusett Mountain........................................... ..4 Wee Care for Little People, Inc............................ 22 Worcester Academy............................................ 57 Worcester Art Museum........................................ 42 YMCA Central Branch.......................................... 83 YWCA of Central Massachusetts........................... 89

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TAKE EIGHT

with David McCullough, Jr. Wellesley High School English teacher David McCullough, Jr. gave a 12-minute speech to graduates at the school’s 2012 commencement that quickly went viral, made international news, and lead to a 2014 book, You’re Not Special…And Other Encouragements.

Written for teens, the book (now in paperback) has a clear message: Kids should fight the cultural undertow of incessant achievement, find something they love and do it, and, of course, abandon the assumption that they are the center of the universe.

We talked to McCullough, a father of four, about the reality of high school for today’s teen and the role their parents play.

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How are students different today than when you started teaching 29 years ago? The kids today are, to a debilitating degree, pressured to excel. To be good at just one or two things is difficult enough, but when you feel compelled to be a straight-A student in all honors courses, an all-league lacrosse player, get the lead in the play, and save the world from global warming, it can be a formula for disaster because kids are set up for disappointment or frustration or lots of late and teary nights.

Where did this come from? It’s a combination of many things. Educated people are having fewer children and they’re having them later in life. The parents, because they’re older, [are] further along in their careers, which means they have more resources to expend and divide among fewer children. The biggest one is the mania for a prestigious college. More and more kids feel they have failed if they don’t get into a Top 25 or 50 college.

How can parents jump off the overscheduling bandwagon without worrying that they will put their child at a disadvantage for future success?

I don’t think they can without worrying; I think that’s the problem. Most parents think, “If my child is underscheduled it will put him or her at risk of missing out on the cultural plums; it will deny my child later opportunities.”

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Technically, this is a book for teens. What is the #1 lesson parents should derive from it? Provide, don’t indulge.

Support, don’t carry. Encourage, don’t lead by the nose. Let kids decide what it is they want for themselves and regulate their engagement in whatever enterprise that might be. Kids want to watch the NBA Finals and not worry so much about their English final the next day. And the parent, of course, watches this happen. You have to decide, “How big a stink am I going to make here?” Sometimes you have to let them fail to learn the lessons on their own.

As a teacher, you spend more time with children than perhaps their parents. What is the main misconception parents have about the life of today’s high school student? Parents don’t understand the degree to which kids are frazzled by anxieties to excel. They’re dealing with this low-grade, and in some cases high-grade, anxiety all the time about achieving laudable results. It’s not enough they succeed, they have to succeed conspicuously.

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Head to baystateparent.com/yourenotspecial to read an expanded, unabridged version of this interview.

What do you think the future holds for today’s overscheduled graduate? I have two kids now in college and both of them [say] the same attitude they saw in high school continues in college. Kids are obsessed with their grades, they handle disappointment poorly, what they want really is to follow the path of least resistance to glowing grades so they can somehow parlay that into a 4,000-square-foot house, a three-car garage, and a weekend home on the Cape.

Do you see any special qualities in students who handle all this pressure well? Yes, but they’re rare. It’s normally the kid who’s letting his or her own interests and enthusiasm dictate their engagement. They’re working hard because they think it’s fun, not because they’re hell-bent on a grade at the end of the semester. The irony is they’re often the most successful students.

When did you realize you really hit on something with the reception of the speech? It never occurred to me that anyone beyond earshot would take an interest in what I might say. [The graduation] was on a Friday. By Monday, my speech and I were kind of international headlines. It was the strangest experience. Suddenly there were limousines in my driveway and TV trucks out front; the phone never stopped ringing. Within a few days I was sitting across a table from Charlie Rose. Reporters from Brazil were calling and Russia and Israel and South Vietnam. My favorite of the headlines was The Daily Mail in England: “American Teacher Goes On Bizarre Rant.” A lot of people assumed I’d angered people, that people were all upset at me. I experienced none of that. Everyone was saying to me, “It’s about time somebody said it” and “Good for you.”

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